Uchiha Kai wore an expression of open disdain.
Though there were things he couldn't be bothered to say aloud, and though he held little fondness for the Uchiha clan as a whole—damn it—Sarutobi Hiruzen's methods really were despicable to the point of being nauseating.
Itachi's face was dark and heavy.
If not for last night's conversation with Kai, without ever having been exposed to the so-called "Will of Fire," he would most likely still be mired in confusion and helplessness.
But now, things are different.
After an entire night of reflection, he understood—when faced with a problem he couldn't untangle, he had to view it from the perspective of interests.
The Uchiha's reputation had been tarnished—who stood to benefit most?
The answer was obvious!
The village leadership, the faction under Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"So that's it…"
"No wonder it always felt wrong before. The truth is actually this simple."
Muttering to himself, Itachi fell silent again.
He might be young, but he wasn't stupid.
He knew that even if he had the answer, some things simply couldn't be spoken aloud.
The consequences would be far too great.
On the other side, though—
Teuchi and Ayame both faintly sensed that something wasn't right, but they couldn't quite put their finger on what it was.
"Kai, don't speak in half-sentences," Ayame couldn't help but interrupt.
"Spit it out. Talking like that makes people uncomfortable. You get it?"
She hated problems that made her head ache.
Now even that little brat Itachi seemed to understand, yet she still couldn't figure it out at all.
It was unbearably frustrating.
But unfortunately—
Kai only glanced at her, sighed, and shook his head.
"If you can't figure it out, then don't think about it."
"Don't ask, don't dwell on it. Pretend I never said a word."
"All I'll tell you is this—it involves the power struggles of the upper echelon, the conflict between the Uchiha and the village leadership. For civilians like you, knowing too much isn't a good thing."
"So just forget it."
At those words, Teuchi and Ayame both broke out in a cold sweat.
Of course they understood—
Even as civilians, they knew the basics.
Sarutobi Hiruzen might smile kindly at everyone in public, playing the part of a benevolent old man.
But Konoha was a military camp.
Anyone who could command an army of battle-hardened shinobi—if you really mistook Hiruzen for some kindly elder—such a character wouldn't survive a single episode of a drama.
"Ayame, don't ask anymore," Teuchi forced a chuckle, narrowing his eyes. "Let's just eat."
"…Fine." Ayame was unhappy, but shrugged. "I get it."
Even so, Kai still wasn't at ease. Quietly, he activated his Mangekyo.
Without a word, he cast a genjutsu.
He subtly altered the memories of the two of them.
"Teacher!" Itachi blurted out in surprise.
Kai shook his head. "They're just civilians, and they're friendly with me. If they were to slip up even a little, Sarutobi Hiruzen would never spare them. That's a risk we can't afford."
Itachi fell silent.
In the end, though, he nodded.
And so, the atmosphere in the room returned to one of warmth and harmony, as if nothing had happened at all.
Afternoon, two o'clock.
After helping Teuchi and Ayame tidy up the shop, Kai finally bid them farewell and left with Itachi.
Once back in the clan compound, he sent Itachi home to sleep, while he himself yawned, went home, and lay down in his little courtyard to bask lazily in the sun.
He looked completely at ease.
But elsewhere, on the way home, Itachi was stopped.
By none other than Uchiha Tekka.
"Itachi, heading home already?" Tekka asked curiously. "Done training so early today?"
Itachi blinked in surprise, then chose to tell the truth.
"The teacher saw that I didn't sleep last night. He said if I forced myself to train, my foundation would become unstable, so he sent me home to rest."
"Unstable foundation, I…"
Tekka was dumbfounded.
His mind was filled with a thousand curses, but he didn't know whether he should say them.
He badly wanted to complain, but remembering that Itachi's apprenticeship to Kai was arranged personally by Clan Head Fugaku, he had no choice but to swallow his words no matter how upset he was.
"Forget it!"
"If the clan head arranged this, he must have his reasons."
"Go on then, head home safely."
Tekka's face was dark with suppressed anger.
Itachi, on the other hand, remained calm.
He understood Tekka's concerns, but he firmly believed that his teacher wouldn't deceive him.
Even though their time together had been short, he already knew Kai's character, wisdom, and strength better than anyone.
Still, he didn't bother to explain Tekka's misunderstanding.
He simply offered a brief farewell before heading home.
"…."
Watching his back, Tekka sighed deeply.
He felt certain this clan genius, Itachi, was going to be ruined.
How could following someone like Uchiha Kai lead to any kind of future?
But he was powerless.
His voice carried no weight.
All he could do was resolve that after his patrol, he would report everything to the clan head.
Itachi's talent couldn't be allowed to go to waste in Kai's hands!
Time passed slowly.
By evening, Tekka had just returned from Fugaku's house.
His expression was grim.
Clearly, his suggestion had been rejected outright.
Fugaku had even warned him not to meddle.
Itachi's training arrangement was not to be interfered with.
And if that weren't enough, Fugaku had even given him a task—
To notify Uchiha Kai and invite him to that night's clan assembly.
Sigh!
Thinking about it, Tekka gazed helplessly at the sky.
He truly wanted the best for Itachi—why wouldn't the clan head listen?
But there was no helping it.
Since Fugaku had made his decision, it was no longer Tekka's place to interfere.
So no matter how resentful he felt, he still found himself standing at Kai's front door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Struggling to contain the anger in his chest, he rapped at the courtyard gate.
Five minutes later, Uchiha Kai finally opened the door with a yawn, looking puzzled.
"And you are?"
"What do you want with me?"
Staring at the stranger before him, Kai was genuinely baffled.
He didn't recognize this guy at all.
Why was he looking for him?
Aside from Fugaku, his son, and Shisui, Kai didn't know any other Uchiha.
Tekka's mouth twitched.
He was an upper Jounin of the clan, yet Kai didn't even know who he was?
Was this deliberate disrespect?
His face darkened instantly.
But remembering Fugaku's instructions, he swallowed his fury and said curtly:
"The clan head asks that you attend the clan assembly tonight at nine."
With that, he turned and strode away without waiting for a reply.
Yes—he had to leave quickly.
If he stared at Kai's irritating face any longer, Mangekyo or not, he might really lose control.
"….."
Uchiha Kai was left speechless.
A clan assembly?
What did they want with him?
He was only a name on the roster, nothing more!
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