Before leaving the Ninja Academy, Shikage handed Naruto a personal ninjutsu training notebook.
It contained systematic methods for chakra control and synthesis, along with a few basic ninjutsu techniques.
After all, he had Naruto's shadow template equipped, which boosted his leveling speed and learning efficiency. The faster Naruto grew, the higher the returns for his shadow soldiers.
After bidding farewell to the kids one by one—and enduring the reluctant, teary-eyed stares of the little girls—Shikage set off toward the Uchiha compound.
The Uchiha district sat on the very edge of Konoha.
Thanks to its isolated location and the notoriously prickly nature of the clan itself, outsiders rarely visited. So, the moment Shikage stepped up to the main gate, hostile glares locked onto him from every direction.
The feeling wasn't exactly pleasant.
But he didn't care. He stepped through the gates without a second thought.
As he waded deeper into the compound, the oppressive atmosphere only grew heavier.
Everyone was dead silent, faces grim and tight. It felt like every single person here was drowning in an endless, suffocating workload.
Only a few civilian shopkeepers gave off any semblance of normalcy. Like the elderly couple running the senbei shop up ahead—Uruchi and Teyaki Uchiha.
Shikage glanced at the old couple, then shifted his gaze to the kid currently buying snacks. Sasuke was busy digging out his money, completely unaware of his arrival.
"Sasuke."
At the familiar voice, Sasuke flinched. He spun around, blinking in surprise.
"Shikage? What are you doing here?"
Shikage flipped a coin into the air and smiled.
"Well, you paid for a tutor. I've got to do my job, right? You haven't trained in days because of the recent upheaval in your clan. Your ninja skills getting rusty?"
Faced with Shikage's teasing, Sasuke pressed his lips tight and lowered his head in guilt.
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. It's not your fault anyway." Shikage walked over and threw an arm around the boy's shoulders. "Come on. Take me to your place."
"Uh..."
Sasuke hesitated.
"Relax, I'm not here to tattle to your parents. I know things are tense right now. I just want to clear things with them so I can come directly to your house for your lessons."
Sasuke's eyes went wide with pleasant surprise.
"Really?"
"Of course. Have I ever lied to you?"
Even though the system didn't ping, Shikage knew that smile meant Sasuke's favorability had gone up by at least a point.
He didn't care much about farming templates from the rest of the kids, but Sasuke's was an absolute must-have.
Of course, he hadn't come all the way to the Uchiha compound just to farm points with a kid. He had a much more important goal today.
...
The Uchiha Clan Head's residence.
Staring at the courtyard—which was even more elegant and luxurious than his own family's—Shikage had to admit he was impressed.
As expected of the Uchiha. Even marginalized, they live like royalty.
Thanks to Sasuke running interference, Shikage managed to get a private meeting with the Clan Head, Fugaku Uchiha.
Sitting cross-legged on a circular tatami cushion, Shikage barely opened his mouth before Fugaku cut him off.
"I apologize, but I cannot agree to your request."
The tone was ice-cold. The rejection was absolute and completely undisguised.
Shikage wasn't surprised in the slightest.
He knew exactly what Shisui's death meant to the Uchiha—it was a massive blow. It meant their situation in the village had just gone from bad to worse.
The clan was pulling back its forces, and the village elders were dialing up the pressure. Under these circumstances, the fact that Fugaku was even calmly receiving a member of the Hokage's inner circle was a miracle of rational restraint.
Shikage just shrugged.
"Alright then."
Fugaku was actually a little disappointed by the quick surrender.
He'd hoped Shikage valued Sasuke more. If he did, the Nara heir could have been a potential safety net for his youngest son in the future.
Just as Fugaku was about to show him the door, Shikage spoke up again.
"Actually, I have another reason for coming here."
"Where is Itachi Uchiha?"
Fugaku's eyes narrowed. He couldn't read Shikage's angle.
Looking for Itachi? Is this an Anbu matter?
After a brief hesitation, Fugaku shook his head.
"I don't know where he is. But if you have business with him, I can pass along a message."
Shikage smiled politely.
"I'm sorry. Anbu secrets."
Just as I thought... Fugaku's brow furrowed. His mind immediately started churning, trying to figure out what Anbu was planning—what the Hokage was planning to do to the Uchiha.
After Shikage left, Fugaku stood up and headed for his study to organize his thoughts.
On the way, he spotted Sasuke sitting on the veranda, staring blankly out at the pond.
Hearing footsteps, Sasuke snapped to attention, looking up at his father with hopeful eyes.
But Fugaku's answer crushed that hope instantly.
"No."
"...Okay." Sasuke nodded, his head drooping in sheer disappointment.
Fugaku walked past his son, heart heavy.
Did he want to say no? Of course not. But Shikage's real motive for visiting had raised too many red flags. Especially now, with the entire clan feeling like a powder keg ready to blow.
"Itachi didn't kill Shisui!"
Sasuke suddenly shouted to his father's back.
Fugaku's steps faltered for a fraction of a second. He lowered his eyes, but didn't turn around, continuing down the hall.
Did he know that? Of course he did. No one knew how deep the bond between Itachi and Shisui ran better than him.
But the rest of the clan was convinced Itachi was the murderer. And even if he didn't pull the trigger, they believed he had sold Shisui out...
Thinking about the secret Itachi had been hiding from him lately, a dark shadow fell over Fugaku's face.
...
Naka Shrine.
Returning from his mission, Itachi didn't go straight home.
Ever since Shisui died, that place didn't feel like home anymore. He was sick to his stomach of facing the daily, shallow accusations from his own clansmen.
Remembering the words of that mysterious man, Itachi lowered his gaze and descended into the shrine's hidden underground chamber.
Standing before the ancestral stone tablet, his eyes swam with complex emotions. He stood there in deep thought for a long time before finally closing his eyes.
When he opened them again, the chilling, blood-red pinwheels of the Mangekyō Sharingan spun in his pupils.
Under the power of the Mangekyō, the ancient, unreadable text on the tablet began to shift and reveal its secrets.
Itachi focused his eyes, brow furrowing slightly:
"...When two opposing forces cooperate, the true world will be revealed."
"Well? I didn't lie to you, did I?"
An indifferent voice echoed from beside him.
Itachi wasn't startled. He simply nodded, having expected the man's arrival.
"Only by combining the power of the Uchiha and the Senju can this world be saved," the masked man continued.
"So, Itachi... come with me. Staying here is meaningless. For you, for me, for everyone."
Itachi lowered his eyes and deactivated his Sharingan.
"I need more time to think about it," he said softly.
The masked man wasn't surprised by the answer. He gave Itachi a long, meaningful look, then turned and stepped into a swirling vortex of distorted space.
"Find me when you need me."
The voice faded into the empty shrine. Itachi remained perfectly still, staring at the stone tablet as the flickering candlelight made his shadow dance wildly across the walls.
A long time passed before he finally stood up and walked out of the shrine.
Outside, in the surrounding forest, a figure was already leaning against a tree, waiting for him.
"Itachi. What's my Anbu entrance exam mission?"
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