Dinner at Fugaku Uchiha's home today was especially sumptuous.
It was not only to welcome back Itachi Uchiha, who had been studying abroad, but also to celebrate the fact that this child, whose talent ranked at the very top even within the Uchiha clan, yet who had stubbornly chosen a development path completely different from the genius shinobi path imagined by his clansmen, had finally completed his studies at the Ninja Academy and entered a new stage of life.
"It really is hard to imagine, Itachi. You truly studied the full seven-year curriculum at the Ninja Academy…"
As Mikoto Uchiha stroked her eldest son's hair, which had already reached his shoulders, she spoke with some emotion.
"I thought you would be like Shisui back then, completing all the exams at the Ninja Academy with full marks early on and becoming a shinobi."
"That is because the environment Shisui and I faced was different, Mother."
Itachi Uchiha looked at the overly abundant food before him.
While smiling bitterly and adjusting his posture slightly so that his mother could touch him more easily, he explained very seriously.
"If Shisui and I had exchanged positions, I believe he would have made the same choice as I did."
"Sigh, even Mom can barely understand what you are saying now. You really have grown up, Itachi."
While Mikoto Uchiha was lamenting the passage of time on one side, Fugaku Uchiha looked seriously into Itachi Uchiha's eyes on the other and asked in a very earnest tone.
"Then, after spending a full seven years at the Ninja Academy, and after voluntarily signing up every year whenever Konoha and Kirigakure held exchange activities, what are your thoughts now, Itachi?"
"Probably… satisfaction?"
After thinking briefly, Itachi Uchiha gave that answer.
"If, like everyone once expected of me, I chose to graduate and become a shinobi as soon as I learned all kinds of knowledge taught at the Ninja Academy, then perhaps I would be just like the vast majority of people in Konoha, completely confused by the reform plans Kirigakure keeps introducing one after another."
"Although this may be somewhat difficult to understand, those seven years of carefree time spent absorbing knowledge and improving myself truly allowed me to obtain something even more important than becoming a shinobi…
"If possible, I hope every child of the Uchiha clan in the future can be like me and fully enjoy this carefree period of learning at school, rather than foolishly choosing to graduate early amid praise of being a 'genius,' then making choices for the rest of their lives while their thoughts are still far from mature and they barely understand anything."
"Sigh…"
After listening to Itachi Uchiha's answer, Fugaku Uchiha revealed a helpless expression that seemed to say, "Just as expected."
He put down the tableware in his hand, let out a long sigh, and spoke in a somewhat wistful and melancholy tone.
"The Fourth Mizukage, Rei Kaguya… He truly is skilled at attracting talented young people like you, who are gifted and willing to think."
"After all, that person is praised as a born sage who knows things from birth, a reincarnated god."
Itachi Uchiha blinked and likewise spoke with some emotion.
"The closer one stands while gazing at him, the more one can feel those astonishing thoughts and ideas of his that surpass the era…"
"If not for the moonfall incident seven years ago, which made the people of the shinobi world recognize reality clearly, I would be feeling incomparably troubled by your ideological tendencies right now, Itachi."
Fugaku Uchiha shook his head.
He looked at his eldest son, whom he took pride in, half helplessly and half with relief, before slowly sighing.
"Although most of the clan has recognized reality, changing their thoughts is not something that can be done in just a day or two… Fortunately, there are still you and Shisui. Otherwise, I truly would not know what to do to make the clan put down its former pride and accept, with a humble attitude, all those new things surging out from the tide of the era."
"I will work hard."
Itachi Uchiha's expression was serious, and his tone was earnest.
"Mm. Let us set aside such distant matters for now. After graduating from the Ninja Academy, what do you plan to do for work, Itachi?"
Fugaku Uchiha waved his hand, naturally shifting the topic to the next stage.
"At present, I have considered teaching at the Konoha Ninja Academy. But considering that I myself am merely a child who has just graduated from the Ninja Academy, it should not be easy to make Konoha agree to this matter, correct?"
"So, if I take a more realistic approach, I would lean toward carrying out missions issued by the village as a genin, then raise my shinobi rank to chunin or special jonin as quickly as possible before considering that matter again."
Itachi Uchiha frankly shared his thoughts with his father.
After listening to Itachi Uchiha's words, Fugaku Uchiha lightly tapped the tabletop with his finger and said, "Then, Itachi, have you considered cooperating with someone else in the village?"
"Cooperating?"
Itachi Uchiha paused and looked at Fugaku Uchiha in confusion.
Fugaku Uchiha spread his hands and spoke with a relaxed expression.
"Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, is no less interested in researching the shinobi world's historical materials than you are… If you feel your own qualifications are insufficient, and that becoming an instructor would not convince people, then cooperating with him and opening a new course at the academy as an assistant teacher should also be an option worth considering, should it not?"
"…Father, how did you think of this plan?"
"While you were studying with your head buried in Kirigakure, I could not possibly pay no attention to what was happening over there."
Fugaku Uchiha shrugged and said calmly.
"Borrowing Jiraiya's reputation is not especially difficult, because he is also very familiar with the Fourth Mizukage, Rei Kaguya. He should know that you have always been a student with excellent grades under Rei Kaguya. However, as for exactly how to implement this plan, you will have to communicate with him yourself, Itachi… No matter what kind of work you plan to engage in from now on, communication skills are indispensable, are they not?"
"I will do it well, Father."
"Mm. I also believe you can do it well. After all, you are a genius unmatched by anyone in our Uchiha clan. If even you cannot do it, then I do not know who else could accomplish such a thing…"
Just as the Uchiha family of four was enjoying this harmonious family atmosphere, with father kind and sons filial, a cold female voice from outside the window unexpectedly disrupted their plan to continue the family banquet.
"Apologies for the disturbance. I am an Anbu directly under Lord Fourth. Mr. Fugaku, Lord Fourth has an urgent matter to discuss with you. Please depart for the Hokage's office as quickly as possible… Also, if Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha are present as well, please bring the two of them along."