"Thank you, Auntie. The food you made is really delicious."
Inside Itachi's home, in the dining room,
Uchiha Hui sat at the table, forcing a stiff smile onto his usually ruthless-looking face.
"If you like it, then eat more," Uchiha Mikoto replied gently. "I've already sent your father's portion to the study. You're Itachi's first friend to ever visit our home. I heard that during missions you were always helping his father look after him, so I really—"
"Cough—"
Before she could finish, Hui's smile froze. He cleared his throat awkwardly and replied,
"Auntie, please don't tease me."
"On the battlefield, it wasn't me taking care of Itachi. It was clearly the other way around."
"I got captured back then. It was Itachi who carried me back to camp."
Mikoto, who had been full of gratitude just moments earlier, froze slightly. This was the first time she had heard about this.
By normal shinobi standards, it made no sense for a genin to be taken care of by a four- or five-year-old child.
But soon, Mikoto spoke again without dwelling on it.
"Either way, you stayed with Itachi and kept him from being alone in that kind of environment. For that alone, I should thank you."
She didn't linger. After placing the dishes down, she stood up.
"I won't disturb you boys any longer. I'll go check on the study."
Mikoto had clearly noticed Hui's embarrassment. Staying any longer would only make things worse.
"Hah…"
Once she left the dining room, Hui let out a long breath.
"Your mother is really a gentle woman. Unfortunately, gentle people are exactly the type I'm worst at dealing with."
Beside them, Artoria nodded in agreement.
"That's true. Itachi's mother is a very kind person."
Unfortunately, Hui gave no response—because only Itachi could hear her.
As for Itachi, he said nothing.
He was carefully holding his knife and fork, cutting the steak on his plate into evenly sized portions before lifting one piece gracefully to his mouth and chewing slowly.
"You're used to eating like this?" Hui stared at his movements in confusion. "It feels kind of… pretentious."
He offered a well-meaning reminder.
"Eating this slowly is a big taboo during missions. Don't let this become a habit."
As he spoke, he stabbed the entire steak with his fork and gnawed on it directly.
"I'm still learning," Itachi replied calmly. "I'll make adjustments depending on the situation."
He continued eating the way Artoria had taught him.
Over the past half month or so, his lessons had been divided clearly—physical conditioning in the mornings, and academic studies in the afternoons.
The "academic" portion covered many things Itachi had never encountered in books, despite being a shinobi.
For example, Artoria often commented on Konoha's district layout, architectural planning, the rank system of genin, chūnin, and jōnin, the mission commission structure…
She would compare Konoha with Britannia, objectively evaluating differences in policy from multiple perspectives.
There were also lessons on table manners, dress etiquette, music, alcohol—various aspects of life.
As Hui had said, these were indeed habits unsuited to a shinobi's lifestyle.
But what if one didn't limit oneself strictly to the role of a shinobi?
Itachi disliked confining his own thinking.
Besides, he learned quickly. There was no harm in trying everything.
"So, how about my father?"
Hui, as talkative as ever, barely paused for a few seconds before changing the subject.
"Ever since we came back from the front lines, I haven't stepped outside the house even once. I've been tortured daily by that demon."
"All kinds of taijutsu training, all kinds of ninjutsu training—he even makes me undergo genjutsu resistance training before bed. I can't sleep unless I break free from the illusion!"
"I'm telling you, I barely get more than four hours of sleep a day!"
His face was filled with indignation.
Listening to this brutal training schedule, Itachi's hands never stopped cutting the steak.
"That does sound strict," he said calmly.
"Strict? That's an understatement!" Hui emphasized.
But soon, pride crept into his voice.
"Still, I completed all his training perfectly. Starting tomorrow, I should finally be allowed to go outside again."
"Although at a time like this, being allowed out or not doesn't really make much difference."
"Most basic missions have been suspended, the war is at a stalemate, and as a genin, there's not much I can do anyway."
He looked at Itachi with a troubled expression.
"So how about this—starting tomorrow, I'll train with you?"
As he said this, Itachi could clearly sense the ill intent in his gaze.
He wants to hit me.
For some reason, Itachi realized he could actually read Hui's thoughts.
Was it because this person was just that easy to figure out?
"Agree to it," Artoria said before Itachi could refuse.
"You may be able to perfectly replicate my basic sword techniques, but applying them in real combat is a different matter entirely."
Real combat?
After a moment of consideration, Itachi found her reasoning sound. He looked at Hui and nodded in agreement.
"That's great! I've been getting beaten up for days now—finally it's my turn—"
Seeing Itachi nod, Hui blurted out excitedly.
He quickly cleared his throat.
"I mean… being entrusted with nurturing new blood of the clan is truly an honor."
His tone turned earnest.
"Itachi, I've always had high hopes for you. Anyone who can step onto the battlefield at four years old has limitless potential."
"If, during your growth, I can become even a faint guiding light on your path, I'd be honored."
"Itachi, I—"
"Hui!"
Before he could finish, a hoarse, irritated voice cut him off.
"It's time to go."
With that voice, Itachi saw the lively boy across from him instantly straighten up, his posture stiff and obedient.
When Itachi turned toward the doorway, he met the cold gaze of Uchiha Aomon.
Negotiations must have fallen apart—about pushing Father to become the Fourth Hokage.
The reason surfaced instantly in Itachi's mind, though his expression remained calm as he stood.
He walked alongside Hui toward the entrance, stopping beside his parents and politely nodding to Uchiha Aomon.
That reaction caused a faint ripple of emotion to appear on Aomon's face.
"We'll be taking our leave."
Uchiha Aomon said coldly.
Then, without looking back, he led the rigid Hui out of the compound.
"Such a restless bunch…"
Faintly, Itachi could still hear his father muttering as he turned back toward the study.