~ Support & Read 10 Advanced Chapters on My Patreon!
<><><><>
—He had failed the advisor!
Tears streamed down Itachi Uchiha's impassive face.
Finally reaching the waiting area, he couldn't help but glance back at the Hokage's section in the stands, his eyes filled with shame and regret.
But in that familiar spot, the advisor's familiar figure was gone.
"The advisor isn't in the stands. Is he disappointed in me? Yes, he must be very disappointed."
"In such a crucial event like the Body Flicker Technique race, I lost to Kumogakure and Kirigakure. Because of me, Konoha, the advisor, has been disgraced."
"Someone like me… is no longer worthy of the advisor's kindness..."
A heavy despair settled over him, like a tangible mire, threatening to extinguish the light within Itachi.
To an outsider, this might seem like a minor setback, attributed simply to the age difference. But for Itachi, this failure was significant!
It concerned the advisor's honor! How could it not be serious? This wasn't about purple eggs or spotted eggs; it was about his, Itachi Uchiha's, determination to defend the advisor's honor!
Uchiha ninja, especially the gifted ones, were prone to extremes.
Itachi didn't blame anyone else, not the other Konoha Genin eliminated in the earlier rounds. He only despised his own weakness, his inability to protect the advisor's honor.
If only he had trained harder, become stronger, perhaps the advisor could now be standing proudly—basking in the glory of victory.
Itachi took one last, lingering look at the Hokage's box, then lowered his head and turned towards the backstage area.
He needed special training. In the remaining events, he would strive for perfection, aim for the gold medal… No! Not strive, achieve! At any cost!
He would place first in everything, ensuring the advisor wouldn't lose face. This was his, Itachi Uchiha's, ninja way!
Next time… in the next event, I will make sure the advisor's gaze is fixed upon me, standing on the victor's podium!
But as he stepped into the shadows, a voice, familiar and deeply ingrained in his memory, echoed from the darkness ahead:
"What's with that expression? That look in your eyes? And those tears?"
"Can your tears defeat other ninja? Can they protect Konoha's honor?"
"Everyone else is regrouping, preparing for the next round, yet you're here, wallowing in self-pity, shedding tears. Aren't you ashamed?"
"Itachi Uchiha! How long… will you cling to this pathetic state?!"
In Itachi's moment of despair, the deep, magnetic voice resonated through the corridor, striking his heart like spring thunder.
Itachi snapped his head up, seeing Gojo Kaigetsu walking towards him. Words caught in his throat; he couldn't speak.
He rarely saw Advisor Gojo angry. No, perhaps, since he could remember, he'd never seen Advisor Gojo angry!
Advisor Gojo seemed like a ninja naturally drawn to the sun. No matter how dire the situation, he always faced it with a faint smile, offering words of optimism and ease.
But now, though Gojo Kaigetsu's eyes were hidden behind the black cloth, Itachi sensed—
—A furious lion… a Nine-Tails… raging within them!
Itachi felt a surge of fear. Not fear of being reprimanded, but fear that his failure had angered the advisor, potentially harming his health.
He wanted to explain, to assure him that he hadn't lost his fighting spirit, that he'd sealed this shame deep within his heart. From now on, he, Itachi Uchiha, would become the Jinchuriki of Shame! This humiliation would fuel his chakra!
But before Itachi could speak, Gojo Kaigetsu launched his verbal assault:
"Itachi Uchiha! I never want to see that pathetic, defeated look in your eyes again!"
"Even in failure, maintain the pride of a Konoha ninja!"
"I expect that after losing, you will stand before your comrades and rivals, smile sincerely, place your thumb against your heart, and declare to the entire Shinobi World that next time, you will win!"
"Dreams that are mocked are dreams worth achieving. Even if you fall, do it with style."
"Itachi Uchiha, hold your head high. Your gold medals might fall off."
A warm hand landed heavily on Itachi's shoulder, the intense Will of Fire flowing through Gojo Kaigetsu's touch.
The comforting words continued to pour into Itachi's ears:
"Go forth boldly, Itachi Uchiha. Even if the entire Shinobi World doubts you, considers you a fallen genius, I, your advisor, will stand firmly by your side."
"Remember, unwavering conviction yields results!"
"Ad… visor…"
Itachi couldn't speak, tears streaming uncontrollably.
Intense emotions erupted within him like a volcano, like… well, let's just say his emotional prostate was stimulated, unleashing a torrent that overwhelmed his reason.
When emotion triumphs over logic… that is the beginning of an Uchiha's evolution!
But… something was still missing. Just a little bit!
What to do?
Gojo Kaigetsu decided to employ a familiar tactic. He removed his hands from Itachi's shoulders, reached behind his head, and took off the recently acquired black cloth blindfold.
A cool, silky black cloth lay quietly in Gojo Kaigetsu's palm.
"Advisor… what are you…?"
Itachi felt his heart skip a beat. Like a young man receiving his first gift from an older male role model, his face flushed, his heart pounding nervously.
"Here, put it on," Gojo Kaigetsu said.
"This is the first time I've given my blindfold to anyone."
"I expect you, when wearing this blindfold, to act like me—hold your head high, be a proud Konoha ninja! No matter how difficult the situation, face it with a smile."
Remember—
"Whatever happens, the advisor permits it, the advisor acknowledges it, the advisor carries the weight of Konoha!"
"If the sky falls, the advisor, this tall one, will hold it up!"
Itachi numbly accepted the blindfold from Gojo Kaigetsu's hand, subconsciously clenching it. He could feel the advisor's warmth emanating from the cloth.
No… not warmth. That word was disrespectful to Advisor Gojo.
Could the heat radiating from the sun, high in Heaven, be described merely as "warmth"?
Yes, humans were like that.
Gojo Kaigetsu thought, at fourteen, catching a cicada, he thought he'd captured the entire summer; at twenty-four, grasping Tsunade's large white buns, he thought he'd secured his future children's sustenance.
The same applied to Itachi Uchiha.
<><><><>
Support & Read 10 Advanced Chapters!
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
There is 9 Exciting Fanfics already available on my Patreon!