Itachi did not disappoint Isamu.
At the age of ten, he claimed first place among the younger generation with overwhelming dominance and was hailed by the clan as the Uchiha Clan's greatest young genius.
"Clan Head, Elders, Grandfather."
Having secured first place, Itachi walked over to the senior members of the clan and bowed respectfully.
"Hahaha! Excellent, truly excellent!"
"Itachi, you are indeed worthy of being called the greatest genius of our Uchiha Clan."
"That battle just now was beautifully fought."
"To possess Jōnin-level strength at only ten years old—you are even more outstanding than Lord Isamu was at your age!"
Zhan praised him without restraint.
"Grand Elder, you're giving me far too much credit."
"How could I possibly compare to Grandfather? I'm still nowhere near his level."
"Your Grand Elder isn't exaggerating."
Isamu smiled faintly.
"When I was ten, I truly wasn't as strong as you are now."
"Compared to me at your age, you've already surpassed me."
"But compared to the person I am today…"
"…you are still very far away."
"You still have a long road ahead of you, Itachi."
Although he looked at Itachi with satisfaction, Isamu already had other plans in mind.
"Yes, Grandfather."
"I'll continue training twice as hard."
"Reaching Jōnin-level strength at your age is already close to the limit."
"It will be difficult to make any major breakthroughs if you continue training here."
"Itachi… do you remember what I told you four years ago?"
"Yes."
"I remember."
"You said that once my strength reached your standard, you would allow me to leave here and travel through the Ninja World."
Itachi answered immediately.
He had never forgotten those words.
Everything he had endured over the past four years…
Every exhausting day of training…
Every painful battle…
It had all been for one reason.
His younger brother.
Sasuke.
"That's right."
"Your current strength has reached the limit for someone your age."
"There isn't much more for you to gain by remaining here."
"It's time for you to leave and experience the outside world."
"Really, Grandfather?"
"I can leave?"
"Are you serious?"
Before Isamu could finish speaking, Itachi excitedly interrupted him.
The thought of finally seeing Sasuke filled him with joy.
"Don't celebrate too early."
"Originally, I intended to let you leave only after reaching Kage-level strength."
"But your age has become the limiting factor."
"So that requirement has to be moved forward."
"Go back today."
"Adjust yourself to your absolute best condition."
"Tomorrow, I will personally assess you."
"If your performance fails to satisfy me…"
"…you will still remain here."
"Do you understand?"
"Yes!"
"I understand!"
"I'll definitely satisfy you tomorrow, Grandfather!"
"Good."
"You may go."
Unable to contain his excitement, Itachi bowed once before jogging away with a smile on his face.
Watching Itachi disappear into the distance, Zhan couldn't help asking,
"Lord Isamu…"
"Why are you doing this?"
"Itachi is a true genius."
"If he remained within the clan, he would undoubtedly become the next Clan Head."
"So why…"
"The position of Clan Head?"
Isamu chuckled softly.
"Zhan…"
"Haven't you realized it yet?"
"Itachi's heart has never belonged to this clan."
"To others, becoming Clan Head is the highest honor."
"But to Itachi…"
"…it means nothing."
"His heart has always been somewhere else."
Hearing this, Zhan fell silent.
Of course he understood Itachi's true feelings.
He simply couldn't bear to lose such an exceptional successor.
"Sigh…"
"Itachi is an intelligent child."
"But in the end…"
"…he lacks a true sense of belonging to the clan."
"If he had been raised here from childhood and educated with the clan's ideals…"
"…perhaps he wouldn't have become like this."
"What a pity."
"What a terrible pity."
"Heh…"
"You're thinking too simply, Zhan."
"Some birds were never meant to live inside cages."
"His personality determines his destiny."
"There are things that can make a person…"
"…and those same things can also destroy them."
"Just wait."
"One day…"
"Itachi will inevitably pay the price for the thing hidden inside his heart."
Having said that, Isamu turned and walked back toward his residence.
Zhan pondered those words for a long time but still couldn't understand exactly what Isamu meant.
After returning home, Isamu had barely stepped through the gate before noticing Tsunade, Garuda, and the others waiting in the courtyard.
"Hm?"
"What's going on?"
"Is someone visiting today?"
"Who are you waiting for?"
"No one's coming."
"We're waiting for you."
"For me?"
"What for?"
"If lunch is ready, you don't need to wait. Just eat."
"Who said we were waiting to eat?"
"If you don't come home on time, you deserve to miss your meal."
Tsunade crossed her arms.
"I'm asking you…"
"Did Itachi really come back saying you've agreed to let him return to Konoha?"
"Is that true?"
"More or less."
Isamu nodded.
"Is there a problem?"
"None."
"I just wanted to confirm it."
With that, Tsunade and Garuda simply turned around and left.
Watching the three women leave so abruptly, Isamu stood there speechless.
"…What was that about?"
"They waited all this time just to ask me one question?"
"Women really are strange creatures…"
After calming himself, Itachi prepared all of his ninja tools before sitting down in deep meditation.
He had to bring himself to his absolute peak.
Tomorrow's assessment would determine whether he could finally return to Konoha…
Whether he could finally see his parents…
And his little brother, Sasuke.
Standing by the window, Isamu silently watched the meditating Itachi and sighed.
"Those who wish to leave…"
"…can never truly be kept."
"Itachi…"
"Whether you can change your own destiny…"
"…will depend entirely on you."
"Let your grandfather see…"
"…just how far you can go."
The day soon came to an end.
The following afternoon, after lunch and after ensuring Itachi had reached his best condition, Isamu brought him into the great southern forest.
Tsunade, Zhan, and the clan's strongest members also followed to watch.
Upon reaching the designated location, grandfather and grandson stood facing one another in silence.
"Come."
"If you can gain even the slightest advantage over me…"
"…I'll consider you to have passed."
Looking at his eternally youthful grandfather, Itachi felt tremendous pressure.
The stronger he became…
…the more terrifying he realized his grandfather truly was.
Forget gaining the upper hand.
Whether he could even survive ten exchanges was uncertain.
Still…
For Sasuke's sake…
He would give everything he had.
"Why aren't you moving?"
"Do you want me to attack first?"
Seeing Itachi remain motionless, Isamu spoke calmly.
Hearing those words, Itachi kept his Three-Tomoe Sharingan fixed on his grandfather.
Yet no matter how carefully he observed…
He couldn't find a single opening.
"Hesitating like this…"
"…is unbecoming."
"Since you won't make the first move…"
"…I will."
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
Without any warning, Isamu instantly released the jutsu.
A gigantic fire dragon, dozens of meters long, roared toward Itachi.
"What incredible casting speed!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Itachi used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared into the surrounding forest.
Boom!
The enormous fire dragon crashed into the trees, instantly clearing a massive area dozens of meters wide.
Watching Itachi disappear into the forest to wait for an opening, Isamu smiled faintly.
"Against a powerful opponent…"
"Hiding while searching for an opportunity is certainly a reasonable strategy."
"But against a truly top-tier shinobi…"
"…those little tricks are meaningless."
"And against me…"
"…they are completely useless."
"Because…"
"…I know exactly where you are."
As he finished speaking, Isamu slowly turned his head toward the forest behind him—
Directly toward the very spot where Itachi was hiding.
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