Minato Namikaze reached out to press down on the document before it could fly away, while his other hand set aside the red brush he had been using for a long time.
He looked up at the young boy with short black hair standing before his desk.
Itachi Uchiha wore a set of neat, dark casual clothes. He stood with his hands at his sides, his posture ramrod straight. His dark eyes lacked the restlessness of other children his age, possessing instead the depth and stillness of a calm lake.
"Itachi."
Minato leaned back into his chair, interlacing his fingers in front of him. "Sasuke's first birthday party yesterday was a success. Everyone seemed to have a great time."
"Yes," Itachi replied with a slight nod. His voice was youthful but his pronunciation was crystal clear. "Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Hokage-sama. After my father got drunk last night, he couldn't stop talking about your kindness."
"However, I have a question."
Minato looked at Itachi. "According to the original arrangements, your apprenticeship ceremony was supposed to be held at the start of the banquet. Two joyous occasions at once would have brought even more prestige to the Uchiha clan. Why did you specifically request to postpone it until today, to be held privately in this office with only us present?"
Gamakon, the purple toad resting on Minato's shoulder, opened his eyes. His golden pupils with horizontal slits scrutinized the boy, who couldn't have been more than five or six years old.
He was curious as well.
In a public setting like yesterday, announcing Itachi as the Hokage's disciple would have pushed the Uchiha clan's prestige to its absolute peak.
Itachi remained silent for a moment.
He looked up, meeting Minato's gaze directly.
"Sasuke is only one year old,"
Itachi said. "That was his birthday party. If my apprenticeship ceremony had been added, everyone's attention would have shifted to me. Sasuke was the star of the banquet, and I didn't want to steal his spotlight."
Minato raised an eyebrow.
That reason was certainly filled with a brother's protective love.
"Is that all?" Minato pressed.
"No."
Itachi shook his head. "The Uchiha clan has been in the spotlight too much lately."
He paused before continuing, "My father serves as the captain of the Police Force, and his authority already draws scrutiny. Yesterday, Hokage-sama attended in person and even gifted that deeply symbolic clothing; the various clans are already buzzing about it. If we had announced me becoming your disciple in such a setting, the Uchiha clan would have become a target for everyone's resentment."
Itachi's voice was calm, as if he were stating a business matter that had nothing to do with him. "Too much of a good thing can be a curse. Constant glory makes clansmen arrogant and breeds a sense of crisis in other shinobi families. Handling this quietly is better for the village and the Uchiha."
A brief silence fell over the office.
Minato blinked and turned to look at Gamakon on his shoulder.
Gamakon spat out a grape skin and threw his paws up. "Why are you looking at me? I didn't teach him those words."
Minato looked back at Itachi, the admiration in his eyes growing even stronger.
Five years old.
At just five years old, he could look past the temptation of clan glory and think from the perspective of the village's balance.
This kind of big-picture thinking was something many adult shinobi didn't even possess.
"Fugaku truly has a fine son,"
Minato sighed in admiration. He stood up and walked to the nearby coffee table. "Since you've been so thoughtful, I won't let your intentions go to waste. Let's keep everything simple."
The apprenticeship process wasn't complicated.
Minato poured a cup of tea and sat formally on the sofa.
Itachi stepped forward, knelt on both knees, performed a respectful bow, and then accepted the teacup with both hands, lifting it above his head.
"Sensei."
Itachi's voice was firm.
Minato took the cup, had a small sip, and then placed a pre-prepared Anbu enlistment form in front of Itachi.
"From today onward, you are my disciple and a member of the Anbu."
Minato helped Itachi up. "Kakashi will lead you in the Anbu. He is my other disciple. Though he's a man of few words, he can teach you a great deal about missions and ninjutsu cultivation."
"If you ever have questions during your daily training, feel free to come find me."
"Yes."
Itachi took the enlistment form and carefully tucked it into his clothes.
The ceremony was over.
However, Itachi's reaction was a bit hesitant.
His fingers curled slightly—a sign of nervousness.
His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he was wavering.
"What is it?"
Minato noticed Itachi's strange behavior. "Is there something else? If it's a question about training, you can ask anytime."
Minato smiled. "If it's about an apprenticeship gift, I'll have a surprise for you this evening."
Minato thought the boy had finally lost his composure and was looking for a gift.
Itachi took a deep breath.
He looked up, and his previously calm eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope.
"Sensei,"
Itachi began, "Did you take me as your disciple because of my talent?"
"Of course."
Minato nodded. "Graduating from the Academy at five, being proficient in Fire Style and Shurikenjutsu... your talent is one in a million even in Konoha."
"Then..."
Itachi bit his lip, finally summoning his courage. "If there was someone even more excellent than me, someone with even more talent, who understood the Will of Fire even better than I do... could you also take him as a disciple? Or, even just meet him?"
Hearing this, Minato didn't look surprised; instead, he revealed a meaningful smile.
He turned to Gamakon, and the man and toad exchanged a look.
"More excellent than you?"
Gamakon hopped from Minato's shoulder to the coffee table, grabbing an apple and tossing it. "Kid, you wouldn't be talking about that 'Body Flicker' brat who made a name for himself on the battlefield, would you?"
Itachi looked up sharply, surprise flashing in his eyes. "Gamakon-sama knows?"
Minato laughed as well, his fingers lightly tapping the desk.
"While the Uchiha clan has many geniuses, there is likely only one who could be so highly regarded by you, Itachi, especially while being around your age."
Minato spoke the name: "Shisui Uchiha."
Itachi nodded repeatedly, his expression slightly excited. "It's exactly Shisui-san! He performed great deeds in the Third Great Ninja War, and his Body Flicker Jutsu..."
"Shisui of the Body Flicker... I've heard of him."
Minato interrupted Itachi, his tone carrying a hint of praise. "The youth who made the enemies on the Mist battlefield issue a 'flee on sight' order. Although I was busy on other fronts at the time and didn't meet him personally, I've read his battle reports."
"And..."
Minato looked at Gamakon. "This guy has mentioned to me several times that a remarkable figure has emerged among Kagami Uchiha's descendants and told me to keep an eye out."
Gamakon nodded in confirmation. "That kid is a direct descendant of Kagami, pure lineage. He inherited Kagami's Will of Fire, and there's no malice in his eyes. Itachi, you have good taste in picking a big brother."
Hearing the two of them hold Shisui in such high regard, Itachi's heart finally settled, and a sincere smile appeared on his face.
"Since you've asked, I would indeed like to meet this legendary genius youth."
Minato waved his hand toward the empty corner of the room. "Go and invite Shisui Uchiha here."