Uchiha Itachi finally curved his lips into a smile, patted his shoulder, and said softly,
"You really talk too much…"
"And you talk too little! Half a day and you can't even squeeze out a word, always making me guess! And I even had to run so far with you…" Shigeo shot back.
"So what are we then? You're the chatterbox, and I'm the mute?"
The two boys burst into laughter, their voices echoing through the forest, tinged with the magical warmth of childhood.
Yes, fate was just that mysterious. Half a year ago, they had only been cautiously observing each other. Yet now, half a year later, they had become good friends—the kind of friends who could joke about anything without restraint!
The next morning, Shigeo rose early, washed, and got himself ready.
When he looked into the mirror in the bathroom, his fingers slowly touched his own eyes. Being unable to see during the day was truly inconvenient. Though the Mirror System allowed him to sense everything around him, his pupils still betrayed him, and that gave him pressure.
Taking a deep breath, he picked up his backpack and prepared to head to the academy. But just as he turned, his body froze.
There were people outside. Not just one—at least two! ANBU operatives…
They weren't making a move, just watching his home from afar. Their goal wasn't to capture him, but to observe.
So… they weren't Hiruzen's people, but Danzo's.
Half a year gone, and Danzo still hadn't given up? At least, unlike before, he hadn't stormed into the Hokage's office demanding him. Perhaps even Danzo had adjusted his thinking. At the very least, Shigeo wasn't as important to him as Yamato. Otherwise, Danzo would've come for him yesterday the moment he returned.
Since they wanted to observe, he would let them watch all they wanted!
Closing off his Mirror Perception, Shigeo deliberately groped his way clumsily out of the room with closed eyes.
At the door, Shizune appeared.
"Shigeo, let's go, I'll take you to the academy!"
She took his hand. "Shigeo, this afternoon I'm going to find Lady Tsunade. You'll be on your own at school. Will you be alright?"
"No problem, I'll be fine!" Shigeo replied firmly.
Shizune nodded, then whispered in his ear:
"Don't worry. Danzo won't dare do anything to you. Lady Tsunade argued with Lord Third over you that day and made him give her a promise. The Hokage said as long as you behave well, you'll be protected. So don't worry about those people. Focus on your training. Even if you enter the ANBU, you'll never be placed in Root—you'll be under the Hokage."
Shigeo frowned slightly at that. They were already deciding his future for him without asking his opinion?
He stayed silent along the road, but Shizune grew more worried, holding his hand tightly and repeating:
"Train well at school. Even if you can't see, your sharp hearing is a strength. And at night you can see, right? So train more then. Don't eat carelessly during the day. Oh—and if anyone tries to stop your enrollment, I'll tell them you can already mold chakra. Don't worry, you'll get in. Besides, you're from the Hyūga clan, a descendant of a fallen ninja. They won't reject you just because of your eyes…"
She hadn't wanted to mention his blindness so bluntly, but she feared others at the academy would be even harsher, so she prepared him early.
Shigeo didn't mind, only nodded repeatedly. "Mm, don't worry, Shizune-neechan, I'll do my best."
As the sound of voices grew, he realized they had arrived at the Ninja Academy gates. Children lined up to register.
In front of him stood Hyūga Hikaru. He looked at Shigeo in shock and asked,
"You? You want to be a ninja too? You can't even see, and you want to be one? Whoever ends up in a team with you will have to babysit you!"
"Shut up." Shigeo's closed eyes hardened coldly.
Since only children were lining up, none of the adults overheard.
"Hah, you dare tell me to shut up? Want a fight? Just wait—I'll make you regret it!" Hikaru snapped.
"I'll be waiting. Just don't turn into a coward when the time comes." Shigeo's tone was icy.
Meanwhile, his Mirror Perception had already activated. In the distance, the Third Hokage stood in the courtyard, speaking to others, while Danzo was right beside him, staring intently at Shigeo. To his left and right, the Root ANBU agents also kept their eyes on him.
For the other kids, today was simply the first day of the academy. But for him, it was the day to choose between ANBU and ordinary life.
If he chose ordinary life, he only needed to seal away his chakra with a sealing technique from the Uzumaki clan.
If he chose ANBU, the moment he revealed his massive chakra reserves, both Hiruzen and Danzo would come to recruit him on the spot.
But Shigeo had no interest in letting himself be exploited by schemers. Especially not Danzo, who would surely covet his hidden Rinnegan.
Better to live as an ordinary person—safer that way.
With that, Shigeo sealed all of his chakra, then stepped forward in line.
Ahead of him, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Izumi had already registered and gone in. Soon, it was Shigeo's turn.
The teacher at the gate filled out his information, then hesitated when he saw Shigeo's eyes. This was a ninja academy—if a child wasn't suited to be a ninja, they couldn't be admitted. This boy was… unusual.
"Teacher, my younger brother is fine! He can already mold chakra. He can't see well in the day, but he can see at night. I believe he'll become an outstanding ninja!"
Nervous, Shizune rushed to speak up for him.
The courtyard quieted. Parents and students alike turned to stare—some whispering, some frowning.
(End of Chapter)
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