"Oh? A test?"
Yoruha narrowed his eyes at Uchiha Itachi, suspicion flickering across his face as he quickly ran through several thoughts in his mind.
Maybe it was just a test.
After all—
Itachi was a master of genjutsu. If he really wanted to do something to him, Yoruha would've already been unconscious by now.
"It's true," Itachi said calmly, as if reading his thoughts.
"I happened to be passing by and saw you practicing swordsmanship. I couldn't help stopping to watch. Your technique… it's impressive."
His tone was sincere.
In reality, Itachi had just returned from a mission outside the village and was hurrying back to report in. He had only coincidentally passed by this training ground.
But perhaps because of Sasuke—
Itachi had paused and silently watched Yoruha's training for a while.
At first glance, Yoruha's sword strikes looked like simple, textbook horizontal cuts.
But the more Itachi observed, the more he noticed something deeper.
There was… a strange precision.
Every slash was clean, stable, fluid. So consistent that it almost defied logic.
That kind of stability didn't come from talent.
It came from decades of training.
But Yoruha…
Was only seven years old.
So, to test his limits, Itachi had quietly approached from behind and released just a sliver of killing intent.
And sure enough—
Yoruha's reaction didn't disappoint.
He didn't flinch.
He didn't panic.
He responded instinctively, like a veteran swordsman.
Itachi still didn't know how Yoruha had trained to this level—
But one thing was certain: his swordsmanship was real. And it was strong.
In modern-day Konoha, while many shinobi used swords, few actually trained in swordsmanship as a discipline.
And among those few…
Yoruha's technique was faster and more refined than anyone Itachi had ever seen.
Maybe… he'll be the next White Fang of Konoha.
The thought passed through his mind like a breeze.
My dear Sasuke…
Looks like you still have a long way to go.
They talked briefly, mostly about sword techniques.
Finally, Itachi gave Yoruha a polite smile.
"By the way," he added, "I heard Sasuke had a bit of a… confrontation with you during the entrance exams."
He shrugged lightly.
"I don't blame you. That was on Sasuke. He's been bathed in admiration and expectations his whole life. The moment someone genuinely surpasses him, he doesn't know how to react.
Please forgive him. And if you can, befriend him. You two could grow a lot—together."
Yoruha quietly sheathed his weapon.
Become friends with Sasuke?
Yeah…
Hard pass.
That sounded like Naruto's job.
In fact, Naruto needed to bond with Sasuke.
Because one day—if Yoruha couldn't defeat Kaguya Ōtsutsuki himself—
He might need Naruto and Sasuke to go beg the Sage of Six Paths for a full refund and a fresh set of upgrades.
So no.
That legendary friendship?
Yoruha wasn't touching that.
Once Uchiha Itachi disappeared from sight, Yoruha finally exhaled a deep breath.
This world… is built for the strong.
Even with a cheat-like system on his side, if he wasn't careful, he could still die in seconds.
That's why—
Getting stronger was the only thing that mattered.
"Alright then. Today's flat-slash training... I'll double it. Another hundred sets—"
But before he could begin again, a soft rustling came from the bushes nearby.
A familiar voice whispered from the shadows:
"Yoruha-kun… y-you… you're not hurt, right?"
It was Hinata.
Yoruha blinked, startled. He hadn't noticed her at all.
Then he spotted the loosely fastened ninja pouch at her side. The strap wasn't fully secured, and a kunai handle stuck out—
As if she had just put it away in a hurry.
Which meant...
She had been watching the whole time.
And when Uchiha Itachi appeared—
She'd reached for her kunai.
If he had really been in danger…
Hinata was ready to charge in and protect him.
Even if she didn't stand a chance.
Yoruha's chest warmed with quiet emotion.
He smiled gently.
"I'm fine," he said. "By the way… Hinata, wanna train with me?"
Hinata's cheeks flushed a deep pink.
"R-really? Is that… is that okay?"
She lowered her head, voice as soft as ever.
It was clear how much it meant to her—but she was too shy to show it.
"Of course!"
Yoruha stepped closer and reached out, gently patting her on the head.
"Hinata, you need to have more confidence in yourself.
A girl like you, training with me? I'm honored.
So why would you even ask something like that?"