Chapter 116 - 16

Chapter 16: The "Stolen" Uchiha ItachiThe gaze was too direct, making Naruto turn his head uncomfortably to avoid his stare."Fine."Uchiha Itachi nodded almost without hesitation, his voice returning to its usual gentleness, yet carrying an unquestionable firmness."I agree! As an apology and compensation from the Uchiha Clan to you and for this incident, I am willing to temporarily assume the responsibility of an 'older sister' and take care of you for a while.""I don't agree!!!"Almost the moment Uchiha Itachi finished speaking, Uchiha Sasuke exploded like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.He broke free from the medical Ninja's grasp, rushed to Uchiha Itachi's side, and grabbed his arm tightly, his black eyes filled with disbelief and the panic and anger of a treasure about to be stolen."The older sister is mine! Why should he be his older sister?! I don't agree! Father and Mother won't agree either!"Uchiha Itachi looked down at his emotionally agitated younger brother, while many thoughts raced through his mind.The current state of the clan, the increasingly intense complaints from his father and other clan elders during meetings, the suspicion and secret surveillance of the Uchiha Clan by the Village's higher-ups...Uchiha Sasuke was still young; he needed to grow, needed a clear goal to ignite all his potential, and also needed... more bonds and more vitality in the coming storm.A thought gradually became clear in his mind."Objection overruled, Uchiha Sasuke."Uchiha Itachi's voice was calm but carried an irresistible authority. He raised his hand slightly and, with an irresistible force, gently flicked away the fingers Uchiha Sasuke had tightly gripped around his arm."This time, you made a grave mistake. Using lethal Ninja tools on a companion is not behavior befitting the Uchiha Clan. Consider this your punishment."He stepped forward, moving closer to Uzumaki Naruto, turned around, and facing the defiant and hurt Uchiha Sasuke, continued:"You are already twelve years old. You cannot be willful like a child forever and rely on family for everything... You need to learn to bear the consequences and truly grow up."He seemed to think of something, and a faint, slightly "mischievous" smile curled the corner of his lips."Didn't you have a 'duel' with Mr. Naruto? If you had won, you would naturally have washed away the clan's shame... but what if you lost?""In a duel between two parties, does only the winner have the right to make demands, while the loser can just act as if nothing happened?"Uchiha Sasuke was stunned, opened his mouth, but couldn't refute it for a moment.The rules of a duel, it seemed... were indeed like that."Since Mr. Naruto won this duel and put forward his conditions..."Uchiha Itachi's gaze swept over Uzumaki Narutoand returned to Uchiha Sasuke. "Then, I will abide by the results of your 'duel'. From today on, I will take care of Uzumaki Naruto in the capacity of an older sister, until—"He paused, his gaze becoming sharp as he looked straight into Uchiha Sasuke's eyes."Until you, Uchiha Sasuke, defeat Uzumaki Narutofair and square in a fair spar using your own true strength. Only then will I return to your side and be your older sister again.""What about at home? What about Father and Mother..." Uchiha Sasuke asked eagerly, trying to find a last glimmer of hope."I will personally explain the situation to Father and Mother."Uchiha Itachi's tone did not waver in the slightest. "I believe that after understanding the full course of events, especially after learning you used such dangerous items as Explosive Tags, they will understand and respect my decision. After all, it was the Uchiha Clan that was rude and at fault first this time."Iruka, at this moment, couldn't help but step forward, speaking with a grave expression:"Uchiha Itachi, this matter... I am afraid we still need to ask Hokage-sama. After all, Uzumaki Naruto's identity is special, and such an arrangement..."He implicitly expressed his concern. After all, the supervision and contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was no small matter and could very likely be interpreted as the Uchiha Clan having ulterior motives.Uchiha Itachi seemed to have anticipated this. He turned to Iruka, nodded slightly, his attitude respectful and frank: "Please rest assured, Iruka. I will personally go to the Hokage Building later to report the cause and effect of this matter in detail to Lord Third Hokage and seek Hokage-sama's permission."His answer was watertight, expressing both respect for the Village's rules and demonstrating his sincerity and openness.Iruka and Uchiha Sasuke opened their mouths, finding that they couldn't come up with any reasonable grounds to refute this arrangement.Uchiha Itachi's reasons were sufficient: punishing his erring younger brother, abiding by the duel results, making compensation to the victim (Uzumaki Naruto) that met his wishes, and reporting to the clan and the Hokage afterward... Every point was sound."Fine, since no one else has any other objections..."Uchiha Itachi clapped his hands lightly, as if the matter was settled. He turned around, facing Uchiha Sasuke again, a complex smile mixed with encouragement, expectation, and a hint of mischief appearing on his face."Well then, the older sister has to leave for a while, okay? Do your best, Uchiha Sasuke!"He stepped forward and, under Uchiha Sasuke's stunned gaze, very naturally reached out and took the wrist of Uzumaki Naruto, who also seemed a bit unresponsive next to him.Uzumaki Naruto's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. The touch from his wrist was warm and strong, with thin calluses—traces left from years of practicing with Kunai and hand seals.He subconsciously wanted to pull his hand back, but found that his body, which had been strengthened by the "Heavenly Restriction," did not immediately execute his brain's command, as if it had been "fixed" by some invisible force—Perhaps it was that sudden, unfamiliar warmth called "the older sister's hand-holding"—that had "fixed" him."Don't you always say you want to catch up to me and surpass me?"Holding Uzumaki Naruto's hand, Uchiha Itachiwalked slowly toward the outside of the training ground, turning back to say to Uchiha Sasuke, who was still standing blankly in place, his voice drifting with the wind."Then let's set a small goal first—defeat Uzumaki Naruto. Only by achieving this small goal first can you get closer to my strength, right?"His voice gradually faded into the distance, yet it carried a strange, inspiring power, while also acting like a small hammer, striking at Uchiha Sasuke's heart."Otherwise, the older sister might just stay Uzumaki Naruto's 'older sister' forever, you know? You'd better win the older sister back soon, Uchiha Sasuke."Uchiha Sasuke stood in the center of the training ground like a petrified statue, motionless, the afternoon sun stretching his lonely shadow very long.He watched helplessly as his most relied-upon and respected older sister held the hand of that blond bastard who had just defeated him and "stole" his older sister, the two figures gradually disappearing into the exit of the training ground, blending into the light and shadow of the street outside.The older sister... was stolen?By that... Uzumaki Naruto?An unprecedented, massive sense of loss, mixed with frustration, anger, unwillingness, and a feeling of being abandoned, flooded him instantly like a cold tide.