Leaving the Hokage Tower, Chishimo went straight back to the Uchiha Clan compound, stopping only when he reached his own courtyard.
But Chishimo didn't choose to go in. Instead, he looked around. After repeatedly confirming that there were no non-Uchiha Clan members nearby, he finally relaxed and turned to walk towards the center of the compound.
Before long, Chishimo had already arrived at the residence of his teacher, Uchiha Fugaku.
Whoosh!
As luck would have it, a slender figure pulled open the door, bumping right into Chishimo, who was about to knock.
"Brother Chishimo, why are you here!" Upon opening the door and seeing Chishimo, Uchiha Itachi's face lit up with joy.
"Itachi, it's been a long time. Of course I had to come see you, Master, and Mistress!" Chishimo smiled and patted Uchiha Itachi's shoulder, half-jokingly.
"Um, Brother Chishimo!" As if wanting to say something, Uchiha Itachi uncharacteristically showed a hint of shyness, his small face slightly flushed.
Seeing Uchiha Itachi's usually calm face rarely show such embarrassment, even Chishimo couldn't help but find it a little amusing. It was hard to equate this blushing kid with the future clan killer who wouldn't bat an eye.
"What is it, Itachi? Just say whatever you want to say!"
Perhaps sensing the amusement in Chishimo's eyes, Uchiha Itachi's face reddened a few more shades.
"Um, I wanted to say that I've completely mastered what Brother Chishimo taught me before. I wanted to ask if you have time now to train with me again?"
Uchiha Itachi's personality was rather introverted; he always preferred to keep his thoughts to himself. This was the first time he had made a request in front of someone else, and his bright eyes looked at Chishimo expectantly.
"Sorry, Itachi! I still have something to discuss with Master." Chishimo apologetically extended two fingers and, with a touch of mischief, poked Uchiha Itachi's forehead.
Uchiha Itachi was a little flustered by Chishimo's poke, but a hint of disappointment still flashed across his face.
"However," Chishimo suddenly changed the subject, "if you're willing to wait, I'll have time after I'm done."
"Really!" Uchiha Itachi's eyes brightened again. "Then it's a promise!"
"Yes! It's a promise!" Chishimo looked at the joyful Uchiha Itachi, and he couldn't help but smile. If only this child's smile could last forever!
Returning to reality, Chishimo sighed and walked straight towards the courtyard.
It was a familiar courtyard. Chishimo had walked there for three years, so he naturally found Uchiha Fugaku drinking tea in the courtyard with ease.
"You're here." Having already sensed Chishimo's arrival, Uchiha Fugaku didn't look up. Instead, he naturally turned over a teacup, poured tea, and patted the spot next to him. "Sit."
"Yes!" Chishimo bowed slightly and sat down without hesitation.
The master and disciple sat side by side like a pair of father and son. Neither spoke first, both intently watching the lush flowers and plants in the courtyard.
After a while, Uchiha Fugaku was the first to speak: "Did you go get your credentials?"
"Hehe, Master is truly prescient, nothing can be hidden from you!" Chishimo chuckled, a hint of flattery on his face that was completely unlike his usual demeanor.
"Brat, stop flattering me!" Uchiha Fugaku clearly wasn't falling for Chishimo's tricks anymore, but the corners of his mouth still involuntarily curved slightly. "Get to the point!"
Hearing this, Chishimo also put away his playful expression.
"I met the Third Hokage Tower this morning when I went to get my Ninja credentials." As if recalling the scene of being given a pep talk, Chishimo involuntarily shivered.
"What did he tell you?" As if he had expected it, Uchiha Fugaku showed no surprise, picking up his teacup again and taking a sip.
"Actually, it was nothing special. The Third Hokage Tower first expressed his apologies for my parents, and then it was just those old-fashioned ideological indoctrinations, but..."
At this point, Chishimo seemed thirsty. He picked up his own teacup and took a big gulp.
Feeling that Chishimo seemed to be deliberately keeping him in suspense, Uchiha Fugaku glared at Chishimo, but said nothing more.
Although Uchiha Fugaku didn't say it aloud, he was quite satisfied with this disciple of his. Both his strength and perseverance were impeccable; he had clearly seen this through three years of teaching.
In fact, in his and his wife's hearts, Chishimo was no different from their son, Uchiha Itachi.
It was just this child's personality; sometimes he didn't seem like a Uchiha Clan member at all. He always felt a bit... flighty when facing him.
But what he didn't know was that this was precisely Chishimo's way of showing closeness. Although there was some self-interest between the master and disciple at first, after three years of unreserved teaching, in Chishimo's eyes, Uchiha Fugaku had already become both a teacher and a father.
It was precisely for this reason that Chishimo always made a bit of a fuss during conversations, just wanting to change Uchiha Fugaku's rigid demeanor.
Despite Uchiha Fugaku's glare, Chishimo didn't care. Instead, he chuckled and then unhurriedly continued to speak.
"But the Third Hokage Tower seemed to be testing me at the end. He pulled out a scroll called the sealed book, saying it contained many powerful forbidden jutsu!"
Upon hearing the words "sealed book," even Uchiha Fugaku, with all his composure, couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
But he immediately suppressed it, turned his head, and said to Chishimo seriously: "Chishimo, you must remember, do not covet that thing!"
Uchiha Fugaku knew very well how attractive powerful forbidden jutsu were to young, reckless teenagers. He was truly afraid that Chishimo would steal that thing back, so even though he highly approved of Chishimo's character, he couldn't help but warn him.
Feeling the concern in his teacher's words and gaze, a warm current flowed through Chishimo's heart, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily curved upward.
"Don't worry, Master, I still know what's important!"
"As long as you understand!" Hearing Chishimo's words, Uchiha Fugaku's hanging heart finally settled.
Then, the two discussed some issues regarding Chishimo's future development, such as mission assignments and promotion to Chunin.
"Chishimo, are you really determined to participate in the Chunin Exams six months from now?" Uchiha Fugaku's face was solemn. "You should know that war could break out at any time. If you get promoted to Chunin at this time, your missions then will likely not be easy, and you might even lose your life!"
After all, with greater strength comes greater responsibility, and the difficulty of Chunin missions naturally couldn't be compared to Genin missions.
Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's warning, Chishimo couldn't help but recall the conversation with his grandmother that night, and he began to hesitate.
But soon he thought of his own future, the fate of the Uchiha, and his fists clenched tightly again.
That's right, for the future, for destiny, I must move forward!
"Master, I've made up my mind!"
Looking at the determination in Chishimo's eyes, Uchiha Fugaku knew that anything he said would be useless, and he could only place his hopes on Chishimo himself.