Chapter 117 - 17

Chapter 17: Uchiha Itachi's Report"Did I lose my mind making such a request?"Meanwhile, Naruto, being led by the wrist by Uchiha Itachi and somewhat helplessly following her out of the Ninja Academy, subconsciously pulled up the interface in his consciousness to observe:[Uchiha Sasuke][Current Affection: 15 → 1]"Yeah, it really plummeted." Naruto wasn't surprised by this.[Uchiha Itachi][Current Affection: 55 → 65]"Huh? Wait?""65?! How did it go up again?! And it went up by 10 points?!""Hey, hey, hey! System, are you broken? Your younger brother is about to cry behind us! How did the affection level increase instead of decrease?!"Naruto couldn't help but complain internally, while feeling the sensation of his wrist being held even more clearly."This woman... Are the brains of the Uchiha Clanreally that different from ordinary people?!"As the two just walked out of the Ninja Academygate and arrived on a relatively quiet street, a figure appeared before them without warning, like a ghost, blocking their path.The newcomer wore the standard Konoha Anbuuniform, with a frog mask painted with purple patterns on their face. Their face was unclear, and only a pair of cold eyes scanned the two through the holes in the mask, finally settling on Uchiha Itachi.The Chakra aura on their body was well-concealed, yet it carried a trained, murderous intent."Uchiha Itachi," the Anbu Ninja's voice came through the mask, flat and waveless, yet carrying an unquestionable tone of command, "Hokage-sama wants to see you. Now."Uchiha Itachi's expression didn't change in the slightest, as if all of this was within her expectations. She released the hand she was holding Naruto's with.The moment her palm left that warm embrace, a trace of extremely subtle loss, which even he hadn't clearly realized himself, flashed through Naruto's heart.Itachi crouched down halfway, bringing her line of sight level with Naruto's.From this angle, Naruto could see the details of her beautiful face more clearly: long eyelashes, a straight nose bridge, and the genuine gentleness currently revealed in her calm black eyes.She extended her hand, not to flick his forehead like she did to Sasuke, but to gently, with a soothing intent, ruffle Naruto's somewhat messy blond hair."I'm going to explain the situation to Hokage-sama, and I'll be back very soon."Her voice was very soft, carrying a strange, soothing power, with a faint, genuine smile on her face, "Naruto, what do you want to eat tonight? Big sister will make it for you."Naruto was a bit stunned by her sudden intimate action and gentle inquiry, and subconsciously replied: "Emmmm... Anything is fine...""I see," Itachi smiled, seemingly not surprised by this answer. She withdrew her hand and stood up, "Then I'll leave tonight to big sister to improvise. I'm quite confident in my cooking skills! By the way, are there any foods you dislike?""No... none." Naruto shook his head, still a bit dazed."That's good." Itachi smiled at him one last time, with a sense of promise in her smile, "See you later. Be good, okay? Bye-bye~"She ruffled Naruto's hair again, then took a step back and nodded to the frog-masked Anbu Ninja."Let's go."The next second, the two figures, like ink drops merging into water, disappeared silently from the spot, leaving behind only... a faint, lingering fragrance belonging to Uchiha Itachi.Naruto stood in place, shaking his head, as if wanting to shake off that subtle feeling of being treated like a child and the lingering sensation on his hair.He scratched his blond hair with some annoyance."Tsk, seriously... which nerve in my brain misfired for me to make such a request? Now it's great, I've gained a 'big sister' out of thin air, and she's an Uchiha who looks like she'll bring constant trouble..."While muttering in his heart, he pushed this troublesome matter, which he couldn't sort out for now, to the back of his mind.Today's lessons were over, and it was still early, so he decided to go to the secluded training ground he often frequented, near the edge of the Villageand close to the Forest of Death, to continue his practice of the "Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu" and physical training.He didn't notice that around the corner of the Ninja Academy wall not far behind him, Uchiha Sasukewas quietly peeking out half his body, staring fixedly at his retreating back.The scene from just a moment ago, where Itachi ruffled Naruto's hair and spoke gently, was like a red-hot iron rod, branded deeply onto his retinas and his heart."Big sister... is mine! She should be my big sister!"He gritted his teeth tightly, clenched his fists, and his nails dug deeply into his palms.Deep within his black pupils, that single tomoe spun crazily, and the blood-red background seemed to burn. Faintly, it seemed that the phantom of a second tomoe was struggling to condense and emerge."I must defeat you! Uzumaki Naruto!""Take big sister... back!!!"The sunset's afterglow shone through the large glass windows of the Hokage Office, casting slanted light onto the polished red wood floor, and dyeing the intersecting roofs of the Ninja Villageoutside a warm orange-yellow.However, the atmosphere inside the room was the exact opposite of this warmth, permeated with a heavy, murderous chill.Two figures, one standing and one sitting, listened to Uchiha Itachi's report."My mother was a close friend of Naruto's biological mother, Uzumaki Kushina. If I take care of him, I can gain support from within the clan...""This can ease the relationship between the Villageand the clan. After all, allowing the Uchiha Clan to take care of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is, in essence, a manifestation of the Village's trust in the Uchiha Clan...""I discovered that Naruto lacks affection. I can deepen his bond with the Village and eliminate the rift between him and the Village...""Naruto is growing too fast, and it is impossible to completely rule out the possibility of the seal loosening... Someone needs to observe and supervise him up close, and if necessary, place restrictions on the Jinchuriki if they lose control..."Uchiha Itachi stood straight in front of the huge desk, bowing her head slightly, her long black hair tied meticulously behind her head. Her voice was steady and clear, echoing in the excessively quiet room."In summary, I believe that my temporary intervention and care for Uzumaki Naruto under the identity of 'big sister' is currently the safest choice."After the report, Itachi maintained a slightly bowing posture, waiting for the decision of the two old men at the head of the room.Behind the desk, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat in a large chair, his hands folded on the desk, with the pipe that never left his side pinched between his fingers, though it was not lit at the moment.He squinted his eyes slightly, the wrinkles on his face appearing deeper under the light and shadow. In those eyes that always showed kindness, there was now a deep and sharp light flickering, quietly looking at Uchiha Itachi below, as if he wanted to take in every subtle expression of hers.Standing in the shadows by the window, Danzo Shimura had most of his face hidden under bandages, revealing only one cold, sharp eye like a hawk.He leaned on his signature cane, his body leaning slightly forward, and that single eye was locked firmly onto Itachi, like the most patient hunter scrutinizing any possible flaw in his prey.