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***
Swish! Swish!
In the Uchiha clan forest, Itachi's figure bounced back and forth continuously.
This training served two purposes: to strengthen his coordination and reaction time, while also enhancing his chakra manipulation abilities.
However, he had always been practicing peripherally, not deeply.
If he missed Shisui's return home while doing this training, it would be a loss.
About two hours later, Itachi concluded his current training, walked out of the forest, and sat cross-legged under a large tree in front of Shisui's house.
He raised his hands and folded them over his chest.
Itachi began to form hand seals with swift and smooth movements.
While his current speed was far from the extreme six seals per second he would later achieve, it was still significantly faster than the average ninja.
Itachi's ability to become an ANBU member at the age of ten was far more than just talent.
Before others were still playing or entering ninja school, he had already undergone extensive training that even adults would struggle to maintain.
There is no such thing as an absolute genius.
Talent only determines the starting point and efficiency of training, but it does not guarantee the ultimate height.
For a ninja, the word "nin" (åæ), or Shinobi, is far more important than any external condition.
Everyone has a different understanding of the meaning of this word.
Itachi believed it represented both a sense of responsibility and a belief.
To endure unimaginable pain with a resilient heartāthat's what a ninja is.
It also captures Itachi's own brief life.
Buzz!
Hand seals formed, and a faint glow gradually emanated from the pores of Itachi's body.
It was the purest and most pristine chakra.
Having completed all the training he could currently imagine and achieve, Itachi could finally calm down and focus on refining his chakra.
Chakra is the hidden energy within the human body.
Only those who can tap into it possess the potential to become a ninja.
Even the man who would later become Konoha's master of taijutsu, known as the Azure Beast, possessed immense chakra.
As a descendant of the Uchiha clan, Itachi's chakra capacity was naturally much greater than that of an average person before he fell seriously ill.
Itachi slowly closed his eyes.
When he reopened them, the sunlight had softened considerably.
The sky was bright, but not at all hot.
A gentle breeze blew through the air, bringing a refreshing and comfortable feeling.
Itachi stood up and couldn't help but stretch, gazing at the simple wooden hut in front of him.
That was Shisui's home.
He was the only one in the Uchiha clan who lived in such a place.
However, Itachi knew that Shisui's direct ancestor, Uchiha Kagami, had been one of the very few Uchiha that the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, trusted.
Kagami had also served on the same team as the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Uchiha Kagami, who held a high position in both the village and the clan, had chosen to build such a simple dwelling in this remote part of the clan.
Few could understand Kagami's reason for doing so, and Itachi only understood it after getting to know Shisui.
Most people born into the Uchiha clan prioritize the interests of their clan.
While this was not wrong in normal times, the Uchiha clan was no longer in the Warring States period.
The Uchiha clan, along with other prominent families within the village, are all part of Konoha Ninja Village.
If one's focus is limited to one clan, their thinking will gradually alienate them from the rest of the village, ultimately leading to conflict.
Of course, this isn't solely the fault of the Uchiha clan and their members.
Therefore, it requires two individuals, each capable of representing and guiding the thinking of the Uchiha clan and the rest of the village, to work together to change the situation.
Communication is mutual.
If even one side refuses, any change will be groundless and unattainable.
Fugaku once considered Itachi the link between the Uchiha clan and the village's higher-ups.
However, the deep resentment between the two sides had reached a point where communication was impossible.
Therefore, Itachi was forced to sever this bond himself.
Having failed before, Itachi refused to allow things to escalate this time, and would not allow them to do so.
However, resolving this situation and the decades-long simmering resentment would not be achieved overnight.
"Sigh."
Itachi sighed softly, muttering, "I wonder how Sasuke is doing now, if he's causing any trouble."
But he didn't dare leave easily, so he could only think about his family in his heart.
Uchiha Clan Leader's Home
"Waaa."
In the corridor, Sasuke was crying loudly in Mikoto's arms.
Mikoto had been comforting him for a long time, but to no avail.
"You kid, just three days after you were born, and you're already so close to your brother! I'm jealous!"
Mikoto lowered her head and teasingly nuzzled Sasuke's cheek.
Sasuke had been crying since he was born, and no matter who tried to soothe him, she or Fugaku, he wouldn't calm down.
But as soon as Itachi held him, Sasuke's sobs stopped immediately.
As a mother, Mikoto was naturally happy to see her two children so close.
"But, brother has important things to do right now, so Sasuke will have to endure it for a while."
Mikoto gently stroked Sasuke's head, her brows gradually furrowing.
"Itachi, you're out there, take care of yourself."
Back in the Woods
The sun set, and the sky gradually darkened.
Itachi remained at Shisui's door, tying up the sandbags and clothes he'd brought that morning.
He performed push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and other exercises.
With the weights on his back, these exercises, seemingly child's play for a ninja, were a real workout.
Time slipped away, and the sky gradually darkened.
After completing his physical training, Itachi practiced chakra concentration for several hours.
It wasn't until late at night that he finally completed his training for the day.
From the sweat he'd worked all day, Itachi's body and clothes reeked of sweat.
But he didn't dare go far to wash.
Besides, for a ninja, it was common to go a month without showering while on missions.
He leaped onto the trunk of a large tree in front of the Shisui Gate.
Thoughts welled up in his mind, and he drifted off to sleep.
In the darkness, moonlight shone on the sleeping boy's face, and a happy smile gradually spread across his childish, fair cheeks.
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves, Itachi slowly awoke.
He immediately shook off his sleepiness, opened his eyes, stood up, stretched his slightly sore and swollen body, and then leaped down from the tree to begin his training for the day.
Itachi waited in front of Shisui's house every day and practiced at the same time.
Half a month passed quickly, and only the last day was left.
...
The night deepened, and Itachi's half-month training was drawing to a close.
In front of Shisui's house, Itachi sat cross-legged, concentrating his chakra.
As time passed, his brows furrowed as he closed his eyes.
Itachi opened his eyes and turned to look at the wooden house in front of him.
"It's already been half a month. Is Shisui on some important mission?" he thought.
Normally, with the Third Shinobi World War having ended just over a year ago, the ANBU wouldn't have any particularly urgent missions.
But after half a month without a sign, Itachi couldn't wait any longer.
The Ninja Academy's freshman exams would begin tomorrow, and each incoming student required at least three days to complete the exams.
Tomorrow, he would have to fulfill his promise with Fugaku and fight against the clan's Genin.
"If that doesn't work, I'll have to think of other options," Itachi said gravely.
He didn't know how long Shisui's mission would last, and in a few days, it would be August 10th.
Only about two months remained until Naruto's birth, the day of the Nine-Tails incident.
He hadn't expected Shisui to be away for so long.
"Looks like I should go home. Mom, Dad, and Sasuke must be worried about me."
Itachi slowly turned around.
He needed to go home early to prepare for tomorrow's test.
Swish!
Just as he was about to leave, a dark figure swooped down from the direction of the Uchiha clan's inner area.
Its speed was so fast that Itachi couldn't detect it without his Sharingan activated.
The figure quickly approached the cabin, briefly pausing atop a large tree, its gaze fixed on the front door.
"Ah," the figure sighed just as it spotted Itachi, who was about to leave.
"Whose child is that?" A look of surprise crossed the young man's face in the darkness.
Swish!
Then, he moved, darting toward the front door.
As the shadow drew so close, Itachi became slightly aware of it.
However, with his current reaction, before he could fully recover, a figure considerably taller than him appeared before him.
"Uchiha Itachi?" the young man exclaimed in surprise, finally seeing Itachi's face.
Itachi finally came to his senses, a long-lost, familiar voice slowly echoing in his ears.
The young man before him wore dark clothing, not the uniform of an ANBU ninja.
The sword slung across his back was standard ANBU ninja equipment.
Unlike most Uchiha clan members, the young man's black hair had a natural curl, and his nose was a rare "dumpling" nose among the clan.
His eyes were gleaming as he studied Itachi.
"Shisui."
Seeing the young man stirred Itachi's calm after his rebirth.
This time, however, he didn't lose his composure like he had when he saw his parents upon his rebirth.
His eyes flickered, and he was momentarily dazed.
"What are you doing here so late?"
Shisui asked, looking at Itachi.
As the clan leader's son, most of the Uchiha clan knew him.
Hearing this, Itachi gradually calmed down.
He stared at Shisui, a smile on his face, and said, "Shisui-senpai."
In the past, despite the age difference of several years, he and Shisui had always addressed each other by their first names.
But now, he and Shisui weren't quite friends.
Shisui paused for a moment.
While he had met Itachi, Itachi was still very young at the time and likely wouldn't remember him.
He pondered for a moment, glancing around.
Even at night, he could still clearly see the area near his home.
There were clear signs of training.
Furthermore, he had noticed Itachi's clothes and face were somewhat dirty, and the stench of sweat emanated from him.
All this suggested that Itachi had been at his doorstep for quite some time.
And since he looked familiar, Shisui came to a conclusion.
Shisui looked at Itachi and asked, "What do you want from me?"
"As expected of Shisui," Itachi sighed inwardly, not surprised that Shisui knew his purpose before he could even respond or explain.
Shisui's talent was undoubtedly equal to Itachi's, and he had even joined the ANBU, so seeing through this shouldn't be difficult for him.
"I want to ask you to do me a favor," Itachi said directly, because he knew Shisui's character and personality.
Shisui was stunned and said, "How can I help you?"
Even with his ability, he couldn't understand Itachi's behavior for a while.
Itachi was the son of the Uchiha clan leader.
Given Shisui's current abilities, he couldn't imagine anything that would warrant Itachi waiting outside his door.
"Before I tell you, I hope Shisui-senpai will keep the following a secret for me. Please.." Itachi said solemnly.
Imagine a five-year-old child standing before you and solemnly telling you something.
Most people wouldn't take it seriously.
But Shisui had heard that the clan leader's eldest son was different from his peers.
He also saw the seriousness in Itachi's eyes.
"Yes," Shisui nodded and agreed to Itachi's request.
Itachi finally felt completely relieved, and immediately said, "I want to see the Fourth Hokage!"
"You want to see the Hokage?"
Shisui was slightly surprised and asked, "Wouldn't it be easy to ask the clan leader to do this?"
"Because there are some things I can't let my father know for the time being," Itachi frowned and said in a deep voice.
"To be precise, I need to keep it secret from the other village leaders. The specific details must be known only to the Hokage."
"So, you're asking me for a favor, but you don't intend for me to know, right?" Shisui's eyes darkened.
"Yes," Itachi nodded.
"It can't be known to the other village leaders or the Uchiha clan leader. It must be known only to the Hokage."
Shisui pondered Itachi's true intentions and, of course, couldn't agree to his request.
Itachi knew it was unlikely that anyone would believe him based on just a few words.
He looked anxiously at Shisui again, "But I hope you'll believe me. This matter concerns the safety of the village and the Fourth Hokage in the near future. I must see him!"
"What did you say!?" Shisui's pupils shrank sharply.
It was no wonder he was so shocked.
Itachi's words were simply too shocking.
After all, the Fourth Hokage was a formidable figure whom even the masters of the other four nations feared during the Third Shinobi World War.
With him in charge, Konoha couldn't imagine what Itachi said could threaten the village and the Hokage's life.
"I can't believe you so easily."
Shisui stared at Itachi, frowning.
"Anyone would react like that to something like that." Itachi nodded.
"But please believe what I say. It's all true."
Itachi suddenly raised his head, his dark eyes fixed on Shisui.
"Chi!"
His eyes trembled slightly, and they suddenly turned blood red.
.....
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