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***
"I must find a way to meet the Fourth Hokage as soon as possible," Itachi thought.
In less than three months, Naruto would be born, and Madara would also take action that day.
He now knew that the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, held a different view of the Uchiha Clan than the other high-ranking officials.
This wasn't just Itachi's own speculation.
Even his father had told his mother the same thing.
If Itachi could tell the Fourth Hokage what he knew, perhaps their family's fate could be changed.
The Nine-Tails incident would not happen, the village would be spared heavy casualties, and perhaps even a different future for the Uchiha Clan would be forged.
Although the idea of rebirth sounded absurd, Itachi believed that if he could meet the Fourth Hokage, he could change all these things.
"Mom, you should get some rest. I'll take good care of Sasuke," Itachi said, rising from his seat.
Mikoto shook her head and said, "Since I'm fine now, I'll handle these matters."
Itachi's reaction that morning still left her somewhat uneasy.
"Mom, please believe me," Itachi said, his expression suddenly serious.
"Although I can't protect the village and clan like the Fourth Hokage and Dad, at least I can protect my brother and Mom."
He finished with a reassuring smile at Mikoto.
"Itachi is such a gentle and kind child. Sasuke has a good brother," she thought.
Seeing that she couldn't persuade Itachi, Mikoto nodded in agreement.
Itachi left his parents' room and sat down by Sasuke's cradle.
Sasuke, sleeping, seemed to have encountered something joyful, a faint smile on his little face.
"What should I do?"
Despite the current urgent situation, Itachi didn't rush to find the Fourth Hokage.
Although the Hokage Building was accessible to anyone, Itachi was not yet a ninja and therefore had no right to request an audience with the Hokage.
As the eldest son of the Uchiha clan leader, a hasty visit to the Hokage would attract the attention of other village leaders, which would be a poor idea.
He couldn't go directly to the Fourth Hokage's or Kushina's homes at this time either.
Kushina was still the Nine-Tails' Jinchƫriki, and naturally, she couldn't leave the house freely during her pregnancy.
When the Fourth Hokage was away, he was inevitably accompanied by ANBU.
With Itachi's current skills, he wasn't capable of meeting the Fourth Hokage without alerting the ANBU.
"Wait."
Thinking of the ANBU, Itachi suddenly remembered someone.
"I believe he's joined them now. If it's him, he should be able to help me."
Itachi lowered his eyes, his heart trembling.
The person he was thinking of was the only person he could truly call a friend: Uchiha Shisui.
It was witnessing Shisui's suicide that had inspired Itachi to open his MangekyĆ Sharingan.
DanzĆ, leader of the Root and one of the village's high-ranking officials, had coveted Shisui's eye technique.
Forced into a corner by him, Shisui was forced to commit suicide.
Before his death, he was still preoccupied with the safety of the village and gave his left eye to Itachi, hoping it would become a protector of the village.
Shisui was not only Itachi's close friend but also his mentor.
Itachi's desire to protect the village was influenced by Shisui.
At the age of ten, Itachi had joined the ANBU, becoming the youngest ANBU member in Konoha's history.
Shisui was the youngest person to join the ANBU before him.
Although Itachi didn't know Shisui at that time, he trusted him completely.
Through Shisui, he could conceal his knowledge from the other village leaders and meet the Fourth Hokage.
And this time, Itachi was determined to prevent Shisui from being murdered by DanzĆ at all costs!
However, he didn't immediately seek Shisui out.
Not only did Sasuke need someone to look after him, but Itachi, a former ANBU member, was well aware that being an ANBU member meant very little time at home.
But with nearly three months left, he was certain to see Shisui, so there was no rush.
Dinner time.
Fugaku finally finished his work for the day and returned home in the evening to have dinner with his family.
At the dinner table, Mikoto held the already full Sasuke in her arms.
Itachi sat across from Fugaku.
Halfway through their meal, Fugaku suddenly stood up and walked into the room.
A short time later, he returned with a form in his hand.
He placed the form on the table in front of Itachi and said, "The Ninja School has started recruiting students today, and you're old enough to attend."
"This is the Ninja School admissions form. Fill it out and give it to me tomorrow morning."
He continued, "Also, they'll be conducting the entrance exam for new students in two weeks, but that level of assessment shouldn't be a problem for you."
Fugaku then picked up his unfinished bowl of rice.
"Yeah, Itachi's old enough to go to ninja school," Mikoto chuckled, hugging Sasuke.
Itachi glanced at the form on the table, pursing his lips.
Fugaku raised his eyes and asked, "Any questions?"
"Dad, I don't want to go to ninja school," Itachi said, voicing his inner thoughts.
"Why? You don't want to be a ninja anymore?" Fugaku stared at Itachi, frowning.
Itachi shook his head.
"No, I just think I can complete the Ninja School curriculum at home, which would be more efficient than wasting time in school. I'll be more efficient training with my clan."
Although Itachi had the body of a five-year-old, the ninja school curriculum and training methods seemed too childish to him.
Having decided to change the known future, he couldn't place all his hopes on the Fourth Hokage.
Itachi needed to become stronger as quickly as possible.
According to his thinking, he just didn't want to waste time in school.
Fugaku hadn't thought Itachi would respond to him like this, but he was well aware of Itachi's level.
The courses in the Ninja School were indeed not necessary for him, and Itachi had also opened the Sharingan this morning.
Perhaps, as Itachi said, it would be more efficient to let him stay in the clan to practice.
The teachers in the Ninja School couldn't teach Itachi how to use the Sharingan.
Seeing that Fugaku hadn't responded for a long time, Mikoto looked at Itachi and said, "Itachi, Mom admits that you are indeed very talented, but at the Ninja School, what you can learn is definitely not just how to become a ninja and ninjutsu."
"So I think it is still necessary for you to enter the Ninja School to study."
"Rather than diligently training, Mom hopes you, like other children your age, have a happy childhood and make good friends."
Mikoto looked at Itachi tenderly.
Although she had married the head of the Uchiha clan, she didn't want her child to be burdened with the same heavy responsibilities as Fugaku from a young age.
In her eyes, Itachi was exceptionally sensible, yet somewhat withdrawn.
Therefore, Mikoto's desire for him to attend Ninja School wasn't based on expectations for outstanding grades, but rather on the hope that he would make true friends there.
"Mom," Itachi observed Mikoto's hopeful expression, feeling a momentary dilemma.
He had finally earned the opportunity to be reborn, and he didn't want to go against his parents' wishes.
However, rebirth offered him both opportunities and greater pressure than before.
To prevent future tragedies, Itachi had to quickly become stronger.
Otherwise, even if he knew what was about to happen, he would be powerless to change it.
If he had possessed immense power, he could eliminate anyone who posed a threat to his clan and the village.
He wouldn't have chosen the path of clan extermination, his parents wouldn't have died, and he wouldn't have had to become enemies with his brother, Sasuke.
Thinking of this, Itachi steeled his resolve.
He looked up at Mikoto and said, "Mom, I can make friends anywhere, but I really don't want to attend Ninja School."
To prevent such tragedies from happening again, Itachi had to refuse his mother's request.
Mikoto frowned.
At this moment, Fugaku, who had been silent, looked at Itachi and said, "Are you saying that you no longer need the guidance of the teachers at the Ninja School?"
Itachi shook his head.
"Dad, you know I don't mean that. The Ninja School was founded by the previous Hokage. Over the decades, the teachers there have trained countless outstanding ninja."
"I just feel that the Ninja School's teaching methods aren't suitable for me given my circumstances," Itachi explained.
He had once completed all the courses at the Ninja School in a single year.
Given his personality and current circumstances, he naturally didn't want to go back and repeat the lessons he had already mastered.
Fugaku nodded, glanced at Mikoto, then at Itachi, and said, "Now that you say that, I understand. Then prove to me that what you just said is true."
"How do you prove it?" Itachi looked at Fugaku, frowning slightly.
Fugaku lowered his eyes and said calmly, "While theoretical knowledge is essential for a ninja, I'm sure that kind of exam won't faze you. Action is the key to whether a ninja is qualified. Simply put, you need to prove your strength to me."
"If you've reached a level where you no longer need the guidance of the teachers at the Ninja School, I don't want my son wasting his time on such things," Fugaku stated.
"There's still two weeks until the Ninja School's freshman entrance exam. If you can defeat the person I choose, I agree that you can skip the Ninja School and stay in the clan to train. How about that?"
"Father, what are your criteria?" Itachi asked.
"I'll arrange for a recent ninja graduate from the clan to spar with you. My criteria is that you must defeat him," Fugaku said, folding his arms.
"This..." Itachi was silent for a moment.
Mikoto, who sat between Fugaku and Itachi, was also surprised by the former's conditions.
After all, no matter how talented Itachi was, he was only five years old. Even with his newly activated Sharingan, using it in combat requires a considerable amount of chakra, which Itachi cannot bear at his current age and physical condition.
The Uchiha clan members who graduated from the Ninja School are naturally the best among their classmates.
If Itachi were to fight against them now, he would have no chance of winning.
Opposite Fugaku, Itachi hesitated for a moment, then slowly raised his head.
"Dad, I promise you that I will meet your standards before the freshman test of the Ninja School!" Itachi had no choice.
He really didn't want to waste the time he needed to grow stronger.
"Okay, then I look forward to your performance," Fugaku said calmly.
"But if you can't do it, just be obedient and go to the Ninja School to complete all the courses."
"Yeah." Itachi nodded heavily.
Looking at the father and son who had already made an agreement with each other, Mikoto didn't dare to interrupt.
...
That night, in Mikoto and Fugaku's room.
"Is Sasuke asleep?" Fugaku sat cross-legged on his bed.
He looked at Mikoto, who had just walked in from the next room.
Mikoto nodded, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Itachi seems to have a lot on his mind."
"Yeah, that's right," Fugaku replied.
As parents, they could certainly see what was bothering Itachi.
"Did we put too much pressure on Itachi since he was little, so that's why..." Mikoto worried.
"I don't know," Fugaku said.
"Perhaps there are factors like what you mentioned, but more importantly, Itachi's thinking has been different from others his age since the beginning. He's so preoccupied, and he's unknowingly put a lot of pressure on himself."
Mikoto looked surprised and asked, "If that's the case, then why did you make that agreement with him just now? Wouldn't that put even more pressure on him?"
"Hehe."
Suddenly, Fugaku looked at Mikoto and chuckled softly, a slightly playful expression that contrasted with his usual serious demeanor.
"I've heard that a woman's IQ drops after giving birth, and it seems to be true."
Mikoto rolled her eyes at him.
Fugaku continued with a smile, "The rules I set for him are inherently impossible to fulfill. I did this to show Itachi that things aren't always as they seem. There are some things you can never achieve without experiencing them."
"For him, experiencing failure isn't a bad thing. Otherwise, even if we persuaded him and he reluctantly agreed to attend the Ninja School, it would be difficult for him to accept what you wanted him to accept, wouldn't it?"
Mikoto suddenly realized that Fugaku was much more comprehensive than she was.
"But since Itachi agreed to you, it means he..." She knew Itachi well.
He wouldn't blindly agree to something he couldn't do.
Fugaku nodded, his eyes twinkling, and said, "He agreed so readily that I was really surprised. This means that he may be able to achieve something that even you and I think is impossible within half a month."
.....
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