Time passed quickly.
Six months had gone by since Yosuke began training Itachi.
As expected of a prodigy, Itachi had fully mastered Total Concentration Breathing, and he could already use Sun Breathing – Jar Form: Circular Dance.
If Yosuke weren't worried about Itachi's young age and incomplete physical development, the boy might already be able to learn the later forms as well.
During these six months, Asuma and Hayate had never appeared again.
Today, Itachi climbed the mountain for training with Yosuke, a bright smile on his face.
Seeing the usually stoic, cool-faced boy suddenly so cheerful, Yosuke asked in confusion:
"Itachi, did something good happen? Why are you so happy?"
"Master Yosuke, my little brother was born last night. His name is Uchiha Sasuke."
"Is that so? Then congratulations," Yosuke said with genuine warmth.
With Sasuke's birth, Itachi trained even harder that day.
After practice ended, Itachi returned to the Uchiha compound as usual and happened to run into Shisui, who had just come back from a mission.
"Itachi, finished training for today?"
Since the day Fugaku fought Yosuke, Shisui had, through subtle probing, learned that Itachi was now training under a swordsman of tremendous skill.
"Yes." Itachi nodded. Strangely, the boy who once spoke freely with Shisui now didn't know what to say.
Shisui also sensed that their relationship was growing distant. So he suggested, "It's been a while since we spent time together. How about some dango? My treat."
At the dango shop, Itachi ordered several skewers of tri-colored dango and began eating.
After a sip of water, Shisui asked, "How's your training going? You seem much stronger lately."
Putting down his skewer, Itachi replied, "Very well. Under my master's guidance, my strength is steadily improving."
The two chatted a bit, but soon enough, silence fell between them again.
"Itachi… what do you think of the Will of Fire?"
Itachi was surprised by the question, but answered honestly: "It's a good philosophy."
"Just… good?" Shisui murmured to himself.
Itachi didn't catch his whisper. "Shisui, what did you say?"
"Nothing," Shisui forced a smile. "Keep eating."
Watching Itachi quietly eat his dango, Shisui sighed internally.
His dear little brother… it seemed he was drifting farther and farther away.
In the past, whenever Shisui talked about the Will of Fire, Itachi listened enthusiastically and asked countless questions. But now, he appeared indifferent.
Shisui hesitated. Itachi noticed and asked, "If you have something to say, just say it, Shisui."
"Itachi… are you a shinobi of the Uchiha?
Or a shinobi of the Leaf?"
In the past, Itachi would've said without hesitation that he was a shinobi of Konoha.
But now, after embracing Yosuke's philosophy, he had stepped beyond the confines of clan and village.
"I am a shinobi of the Uchiha, and a shinobi of the Leaf. The two aren't in conflict."
Shisui's brows tightened. Itachi's change was unmistakable.
He'd expected Itachi to choose one side — likely the Uchiha — but he hadn't expected this answer.
It caught him completely off guard.
"Shisui, I know what you're thinking. You believe I've changed. But I haven't — I'm still me. I've just stopped being bound by clan or village."
At that moment, Shisui felt that the boy before him was almost a stranger — so unfamiliar he could hardly believe this was Uchiha Itachi.
He didn't know whether this change was good or bad.
After finishing their meal, the two parted ways.
Under the streetlights, their shadows overlapped… then gradually separated… finally diverging down different paths.
Returning home, Itachi didn't even get a chance to see his newborn brother before being summoned by his father, Uchiha Fugaku.
Seated in the main room, Fugaku asked, "Itachi, how is your training lately?"
"It's going well," Itachi replied concisely.
"Tell Yosuke-san tomorrow that you'll stop training for the time being, starting tomorrow."
"Why?"
Fugaku frowned. In the past, Itachi would have followed his orders without question.
But now, he was questioning him.
"It's fine if you tell Yosuke-san. The Fourth Hokage's wife, Uzumaki Kushina, is about to give birth. If Yosuke-san is willing, he can stay in the Uchiha compound for a while."
With just that one sentence, Itachi immediately understood why he had to remain at home.
The Nine-Tails…
And the Uchiha clan would be in a very delicate position.
"I understand. I'll inform my master tomorrow."
Bowing, Itachi withdrew from the room.
Meanwhile, outside the Land of Fire, dark currents were stirring.
Wearing his mask, Uchiha Obito said to Zetsu,
"Zetsu, it's time to move against the Leaf."
As the true manipulator of the shinobi world, Zetsu naturally knew why Obito chose this moment.
But to keep up appearances, he asked innocently:
"Why act now? The Leaf is strong. We don't have the power to start a direct war with them."
"I overheard something… Uzumaki Kushina is about to give birth. When that happens, the Nine-Tails' seal will weaken. I'll release the Nine-Tails and destroy the Leaf!"
Obito's eyes gleamed with icy malice.
He had indeed learned this information by accident. When he secretly visited Rin's grave in the Leaf, he happened to run into Kakashi — and it was from Kakashi's conversation that he heard the news.
Everything was progressing exactly according to Zetsu's plan.
He was ecstatic on the inside, but outwardly he remained calm:
"Are you sure the plan will go smoothly? Remember, you'll have to face the fastest shinobi in the world — Namikaze Minato."
Obito snorted coldly.
"No one knows Minato better than I do. I'm going to cut off every last one of my bonds… with my own hands!"
His body faded, becoming transparent, until it vanished.
From the shadows, the figure of the God-Tree's Will — Kaguya's remnant consciousness — emerged.
"It seems my new vessel will soon be ready."
Zetsu said "sincerely,"
"But of course. We're partners, after all. I'll naturally do everything I can for you."
Meanwhile, in the Land of Rice Fields.
In a dim underground laboratory, Orochimaru was studying the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique.
It wasn't complete yet, but it was getting close.
"Orochimaru-sama, a letter has arrived from the Leaf!"
Orochimaru's tongue flicked excitedly as he looked at the letter.
"That old fox Danzo… still as scheming as ever.
But… a chance to deal a heavy blow to the Leaf?
How could I possibly let that slip by?"
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