126-130

Chapter 126: A Mysterious Turn of Events  

Itachi walked through the streets of Konoha, heading slowly toward the Hokage’s office.  

After so many years, he had almost forgotten what this felt like.  

At the same time, his mind was preoccupied with thoughts about what to do if his cover was blown.  

He pondered over and over but could only come up with one solution: if Hiruzen Sarutobi discovered anything, he would use the ultimate Tsukuyomi to trap him. Then, perhaps Kakashi could temporarily take his place.  

From there, Itachi could manipulate Hiruzen and alter his will.  

Ever since using his ocular jutsu on Shin’ya, Itachi had realized that the cooldown period for this technique was half a year, making it inconvenient to rely on.  

"What's wrong? Has it been so long since you last visited the Hokage's office that you've forgotten the way?"  

Before long, Kakashi appeared behind Itachi. Observing the younger man's distracted expression, Kakashi teased him.  

"No," Itachi replied softly without turning around. "I just didn't expect things to end up like this. It's quite troublesome."  

"Are you worried about your identity being exposed? Unsure how to face the village you once loved?"  

Kakashi’s deep gaze seemed to pierce through Itachi’s complicated thoughts.  

In truth, it was unclear if Kakashi was speaking to Itachi or reflecting on himself.  

During his time in the Anbu, Kakashi might not have entertained such thoughts. But circumstances had changed. Standing in the sunlight again brought up mixed emotions he hadn’t experienced before.  

Itachi chuckled faintly at Kakashi’s assumptions but didn’t respond.  

Many things were beyond repair.  

The memories of his previous life made everything feel simultaneously familiar and strange.  

Looking at it from a different perspective, though, this could also be a new beginning.  

Compared to the memories of his past self, Itachi thought it might be interesting to personally experience life in this world—to interact with the Konoha 12.  

Life was neither overly complicated nor overly simple.  

He wanted to immerse himself in the experience, but his past memories often intruded, subtly influencing his decisions.  

It left his mind in turmoil.  

"Shall we go in together?"  

Before they knew it, the two had arrived at the Hokage’s office door.  

Kakashi’s voice brought Itachi back to the present.  

The body’s muscle memory of this place surfaced, contrasting sharply with the feeling of infiltrating in the shadows.  

Stealth missions were about blending into darkness, something Itachi was far more comfortable with. But standing here in the open, bathed in sunlight, left him feeling out of place.  

This unease wasn’t caused by external factors but by his own internal conflict.  

At some point, he had grown accustomed to the shadows.  

"Alright."  

Suppressing his chaotic thoughts, Itachi’s expression returned to its usual calm as he spoke softly.  

People often delve into their inner world, seeking to better understand themselves.  

Knock, knock, knock.  

“Come in,” came the weary, aged voice of Hiruzen Sarutobi.  

Itachi gently pushed open the door. After a brief hesitation, he stepped inside.  

“Hokage…”  

He walked steadily toward Hiruzen, stopping in front of him and greeting him in an even tone.  

“Hokage-sama,” Kakashi followed behind, offering his own polite greeting after Itachi finished.  

Hiruzen’s tired eyes lifted slightly at the sound of their voices. His furrowed brow deepened further.  

The events of the previous night still weighed heavily on him, leaving him without any leads. To make matters worse, the people he trusted seemed distant.  

Everyone called him “Hokage-sama,” yet this Asura referred to him merely as “Hokage.”  

The subtle difference gnawed at Hiruzen, leaving him unsettled and unable to let it go.  

His sharp gaze locked onto Itachi, scrutinizing him like a hawk. An invisible pressure radiated from Hiruzen, bearing down on Itachi.  

The room was steeped in tension.  

Behind Itachi, Kakashi felt a cold sweat trickle down his back. Despite his newfound strength, standing before Hiruzen still made him uneasy. The old Hokage’s presence carried the same weight it had in his prime, triggering an instinctive reaction in Kakashi.  

Yet Itachi remained unflustered, his calm demeanor unshaken under Hiruzen’s piercing gaze. This poise astonished Hiruzen; such composure was rare for someone so young.  

“Why did you summon me, Hokage? If there’s nothing urgent, I’ll be leaving now.” 

Itachi ignored Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze and spoke calmly. 

He was no longer the young boy who had just defected from the village, sweating cold bullets under the weight of Hiruzen’s aura. 

“Heh, Asura, right? Not bad. But your attitude toward me seems less than friendly. Is there some kind of misunderstanding between us?” 

At Itachi’s words, Hiruzen's aura shifted, becoming warm and radiant. 

The Asura in front of him was exactly the person he had been looking for. Such a calm and composed demeanor, unshaken by fame or disgrace, could outshine countless ninjas of the same age and rank. This was precisely the kind of person he needed. 

Deep down, Hiruzen felt a sense of pride. These were the individuals he had personally selected, a testament to his unerring judgment, even after all these years. 

What started as a rather gloomy day for him now felt unexpectedly refreshing—a sudden and inexplicable mood shift. 

“You’re quite something yourself, Aganzo,” Hiruzen remarked. 

Bringing his thoughts back to the present, Hiruzen glanced at Kakashi, who stood half a step behind Itachi, and felt a surge of satisfaction. Breaking the awkward silence, he spoke up. 

At this moment, his excitement surpassed even the thrill of stumbling upon a beautiful woman bathing. 

Seeing these two in person, he was convinced they were destined to be extraordinary leaders. For someone who lacked talented subordinates, Hiruzen couldn’t deny his joy at finding these two exceptional individuals. 

Of course, he mused, if two beautiful women were to join him for a leisurely day of sports, that might just surpass this feeling. 

“Thank you for the praise, Lord Hokage…”  

Unlike the relatively aloof Itachi, Kakashi responded with more tact and politeness.  

This was precisely the kind of demeanor Hiruzen had imagined for Aganzo’s fabricated personality.  

If both were as cold as Itachi, there wouldn’t be much fun to be had.  

...  

Hearing Kakashi's words, Hiruzen stroked his beard in satisfaction.  

“The reason I called you here today is to promote you both to jonin...”  

Without further delay, Hiruzen got straight to the point after meeting them.  

“Huh?”  

Itachi showed no reaction to Hiruzen’s words; he had already anticipated this from Danzo’s hints last night. Kakashi, however, was visibly surprised—a far more genuine response.  

Seeing Asura’s lack of reaction, Hiruzen felt a bit frustrated. This guy really was unshakable.  

“Of course, it’s not that simple. Initially, I wanted to observe you both further, but after today’s meeting, I’ve decided to act on the principle of ‘use those you trust.’ So, let’s cut to the chase. If you can complete the mission I assign, you will officially be promoted to jonin. Based on your records, your qualifications are already sufficient...”  

Despite his earlier annoyance, Hiruzen quickly grew accustomed to their personalities and spoke bluntly.  

He only mentioned success—he didn’t say what would happen if they failed.  

...  

“What mission?”  

Itachi asked coolly after hearing Hiruzen’s explanation, while Kakashi remained slightly distracted. He couldn’t wrap his head around why the jonin promotion was happening so quickly.  

It was absurd. Aganzo had only appeared three days ago, and now he was already being evaluated for jonin—a promotion faster than Kakashi had ever experienced himself.  

“This mission is neither too simple nor overly complicated. Six months ago, I sent two jonin to the Hidden Mist Village for negotiations, but they’ve been detained. Your mission is to complete the negotiations and bring them back.”  

Hiruzen was very pleased with Asura’s composed reaction.  

Itachi, however, felt slightly strange.  

Initially, when Hiruzen mentioned a mission, Itachi felt reluctant, as though he’d rather avoid it altogether.  

But upon hearing the details, his mood shifted. This sounded more like a vacation—something quite appealing.  

Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all...  

...  

“As jonin, you’ll need more than just combat skills and mission execution. Other abilities, such as diplomacy and interpersonal skills, are just as critical. Ninjas are more than mere fighters; they must navigate human relationships as well,” Hiruzen explained, worried they might refuse.  

What he said was true. A jonin represented their village’s image and required qualities beyond raw strength—though Might Guy was an exception.  

Guy, after all, was a unique case. He was a civilian ninja, but his father, Might Duy, had a significant influence on both the Leaf Village and the outside world.  

This warranted a special exception for someone as unorthodox as Guy.  

And, of course, Guy had proven himself as someone capable of achieving greatness—not only through his looks but also through his unwavering dedication.  

Hiruzen considered himself far from superficial.  

Chapter 127: Preparations  

Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed the two men deep in thought after hearing his words, feeling a sense of satisfaction.  

These two seem to have quite the resolve, he thought.  

The Hokage’s office fell silent for a moment. Breaking the stillness, Hiruzen tapped his pipe against the table, lit it, and took a deep drag.  

“I won’t force you. The choice is yours. If you’re undecided, I can give you a day to think it over,” he said, breaking the stalemate.  

In Hiruzen’s mind, although Kirigakure wasn’t particularly dangerous at the moment, two Konoha Jonin had already fallen there. Sending two Chunin now was naturally daunting for them. After all, wealth and success often come with risk, and not everyone possesses that kind of awareness. The task wasn’t without its hazards, either.  

However, the greater the risk, the better it tested the abilities and potential of his subordinates.  

These were the kind of people who could achieve great things—the ones worth paying attention to.  

If everyone acted like the Elders’ Council, Konoha would eventually fall into decline.  

Strong at home, meek before outsiders...  

Of course, he never reflected on his own shortcomings.  

As the saying goes, A general’s demeanor shapes his soldiers’ behavior.  

If the leader is weak, the entire team falters.  

“When do we depart?”  

As Hiruzen pondered, his thoughts were interrupted just as he raised the pipe to his lips for a second puff.  

It was Itachi who spoke.  

The unexpected initiative taken by Itachi caused Kakashi to naturally defer to him. Choosing silence, Kakashi decided it was wiser not to stand out or speak unnecessarily, avoiding potential mistakes that might arise from not fully understanding the mission details.  

Besides, Kakashi had little to discuss with Hiruzen.  

While he loved Konoha deeply, that didn’t mean he had to blindly follow Hiruzen’s orders.  

In Kakashi’s view, it didn’t matter who held the title of Hokage. He would continue to love and protect Konoha in his own way.  

Hiruzen couldn’t help but sigh inwardly as he watched the aloof Itachi take the lead.  

As expected, Itachi, this seemingly unassuming but capable ninja, keeps quiet most of the time but takes decisive action when it matters. He’s someone worth cultivating—a promising talent for great endeavors.  

Hiruzen decided to review Itachi’s file more thoroughly after their departure to see if he could groom him as a core asset, pending a political evaluation.  

“And what about you?” he asked, exhaling a cloud of smoke while looking at Kakashi.  

“It’s my duty,” Kakashi replied softly.  

“Good. Then you’ll leave tomorrow.”  

Hiruzen was pleased with their responses, convinced he hadn’t misjudged them.  

“This is your mission dossier, along with a letter I’ve written to the Mizukage. Hopefully, it will aid you. Remember, prioritize your safety above all else. Improvise as needed and don’t worry too much.”  

Hiruzen handed the prepared documents to Itachi, though he didn’t bother to get up, merely extending them toward him.  

Itachi stepped forward, picked up the files from the edge of the desk, and nodded.  

Kakashi, meanwhile, didn’t move an inch, reveling in the feeling of playing the part of a carefree subordinate.  

“This mission will be led by Itachi, with Kakashi as support. Prepare yourselves accordingly,” Hiruzen instructed, signaling them to leave after Itachi stood there briefly.  

Although burdened with many worries, Hiruzen managed to hide them well, maintaining a courteous demeanor.  

Once the two left, the now-empty room felt heavy with silence. Hiruzen, deep in thought, puffed on his pipe for the fourth time before snapping out of his daze.  

He opened a drawer and pulled out their personnel files, examining them closely.  

These were more detailed records he’d requested from Human Resources, but he hadn’t reviewed them until now.  

After their interaction, Hiruzen felt they showed promise, so he decided to take the time to go through the files.  

“Last month, fell off a cliff while saving a teammate, resulting in a head injury and memory loss... seems like a good kid.”  

He smiled slightly, then called out, “Someone, bring Matsushita Ryoma to me.”  

Hiruzen planned to summon the fabricated individual whom the files claimed Itachi had saved, intending to inquire about Itachi’s past behavior.  

What Hiruzen didn’t know was that this entire scenario had been meticulously orchestrated by Danzo.  

One man plotted meticulously, while the other probed casually—what could he possibly uncover?  

As Itachi and Kakashi exited the office, they waved their hands in front of their noses, trying to dispel the lingering smell of smoke.  

They couldn’t understand how Hiruzen could endure such harsh tobacco. Even inhaling the secondhand smoke had been unbearable.  

Itachi, who had smoked in his past life, found the tobacco in this world absurdly harsh.  

“We’ve only just returned to Konoha, and we’re already being sent on a mission? Are you really willing to work for Konoha like this?” Kakashi asked.  

When the two of them arrived at a sparsely populated area, Kakashi moved his lips slightly and spoke in a low voice. 

"Let’s take it easy for now. It’s not the right time yet. Besides, it’s boring just waiting around. Think of this as a business trip on the company’s dime." 

Itachi didn’t have much to say in response to Kakashi’s suggestion.  

He was currently stuck in a bottleneck, and being anxious wouldn’t solve anything.  

Some things simply couldn’t be rushed. Besides, his current work involved areas he had never delved into before, so every step forward had to be taken with extreme caution.  

For instance, he was in the process of fusing and assimilating Hashirama’s cells, which required his full concentration and left no room for distractions.  

At most, he felt a deep dissatisfaction with the progress.  

His initial time estimate had proven to be way off, extending the process far beyond what he had anticipated.  

He realized that assimilating Hashirama’s cells was even harder than he had imagined.  

Still, when he thought about the nature of Hashirama’s cells—not just Hashirama’s powerful physique but also the will and chakra of Ashura embedded within them—he didn’t dwell too much on the difficulty.  

After all, this world revolved around bloodlines. Those blessed with powerful bloodlines were like paying players in a game, while someone like Guy was a hardcore free-to-play grinder.  

And not just any grinder—Guy was a top-tier one. Other grinders might work hard, but their efforts would eventually hit a ceiling. Bloodline power was far stronger than most could imagine.  

Even so, those with bloodlines faced their own limitations. Without the kind of foresight that Itachi had gained from understanding the original story, very few would dare to take such risks or devote excessive time to research.  

Even someone as talented as Orochimaru would be clueless without a strategic direction like Itachi’s.  

Without someone like Itachi guiding him, Orochimaru might still be obsessing over half-finished techniques like Sage Mode Cursed Seals, the Reanimation Jutsu, or the Living Corpse Reincarnation Technique.  

And even if he kept refining them, he would hit bottlenecks. Improving those techniques even slightly would require massive amounts of time and energy.  

… 

“Tonight, secretly go see Naruto. Get a small vial of his blood. Also, teach him a few jutsu. His skills in that area are way too underwhelming right now.”  

By the time Itachi finished his train of thought, the two had already reached home.  

Since their missions were aligned, they walked into the house openly without any intention of avoiding suspicion.  

After all, they were comrades on the same path and needed to communicate and discuss strategies.  

“Huh? What do you need his blood for?”  

Kakashi, who had noticed Itachi’s silent contemplation, instinctively asked after hearing Itachi’s request.  

However, he quickly understood Itachi’s reasoning.  

Or so he thought.  

In Kakashi’s opinion, Naruto’s bursts of power came from the Nine-Tails, so giving his blood to Orochimaru wouldn’t lead to any meaningful research.  

At least, that was Kakashi’s perspective.  

But as for teaching Naruto some jutsu, Kakashi didn’t object.  

The problem was that, based on his understanding of Naruto, the kid’s talent in this area was… well, let’s just say it left much to be desired.  

Trying to speed up Naruto’s learning seemed nearly impossible…  

Chapter 128: Midnight Secrets  

Kakashi, having gone two days and a night without sleep, silently but strongly criticized Itachi for his hands-off approach as midnight rolled around.  

At that moment, he was utterly exhausted...  

The night before, he had used Shadow Clones to study documents, doubling his productivity at the cost of doubling his fatigue.  

He hadn’t had a chance to sleep during the day either.  

Now that midnight had arrived—the time when people are at their most fatigued—he regretted agreeing to this so hastily.  

Especially knowing that Itachi was sleeping soundly in bed while he had to take on such a grueling task, Kakashi couldn’t help but feel frustrated.  

Fortunately, thanks to the boost from Hashirama cells, he wasn’t completely drained by the Shadow Clone technique. Without that, he’d have been left utterly exhausted, needing to sleep for days on end.  

In the cover of night, a dark shadow flickered quickly and silently.  

It moved like a ghost.  

Before long, Kakashi quietly opened the window of Naruto’s house, slipped inside, and closed the window behind him. His practiced ease suggested he’d done this sort of thing more than a few times before.  

“Who’s there?”  

As Kakashi entered the room and closed the window, Naruto, who was lying in bed, opened his eyes.  

His gaze was slightly unfocused, and his eyes were bleary, as though he’d just been woken from a deep sleep.  

“It’s me.”  

Naruto’s quick reaction surprised Kakashi slightly—he hadn’t expected Naruto to wake up so easily.  

At that moment, Kakashi suddenly began to understand why Itachi had requested Naruto’s blood.  

Naruto’s current state resembled the time Kakashi had seen him defeat an Anbu. Even though the Nine-Tails chakra lay dormant within him, not showing any signs of activation, Naruto had relied solely on his own abilities.  

The fact that Naruto could single-handedly defeat an Anbu in just a few hours weighed heavily on Kakashi’s mind, filling him with a sense of astonishment.  

What Kakashi didn’t realize was that Asura’s chakra had fully integrated into Naruto after Asura’s will had been extinguished. This allowed Naruto to control and activate the chakra, leading to a significant surge in his power.  

Asura’s chakra had always been like a seed, initially nourishing Asura’s will. While present in Naruto’s body, it granted him partial abilities without requiring active development. However, it wasn’t something Naruto could fully utilize before.  

Now, the seed had sprouted. Naruto could completely control and activate it, marking a qualitative change.  

Over time, as Naruto continued to develop, this potential would only grow stronger.  

“Big brother? Why are you here so late?”  

Naruto didn’t know about the storm brewing in Kakashi’s mind. Hearing Kakashi’s voice, which sounded familiar, he slowly adjusted to the darkness. With the faint light from outside, he recognized Kakashi’s face and asked softly.  

“I need a vial of your blood.”  

Kakashi didn’t waste words and pulled out a syringe.  

It wasn’t large, about the size of a pinky finger.  

“Huh? You need to draw blood?”  

Hearing Kakashi’s words and seeing his actions, Naruto felt a little uneasy...  

But he didn’t feel any aversion or resistance to the idea.  

In fact, knowing he could help Kakashi gave Naruto an inexplicable sense of happiness.  

Helping Kakashi made him feel like he had value, and it meant he could spend more time with Kakashi.  

Unconsciously, Kakashi had earned a great deal of trust from Naruto.  

“Don’t worry. It’ll be over quickly.”  

Seeing that Naruto didn’t resist, Kakashi gently lifted Naruto’s arm under the faint moonlight. He inserted the needle into Naruto’s vein and began drawing blood, taking only about one-third of the vial’s capacity.  

“Use your chakra to heal the wound.”  

After finishing, Kakashi noticed some blood spurting from the needle’s withdrawal point. He spoke softly.  

Naruto, seeing Kakashi’s decisive actions, couldn’t refuse and turned his head away.  

Hearing Kakashi’s advice, Naruto slowly turned back, looking at the bleeding wound. He felt a subtle, indescribable emotion.  

“Can you tell me more about yourself?”  

To Naruto’s surprise, Kakashi didn’t leave after drawing blood.  

Instead, he carefully packed up the syringe, then stared at him in a daze.  

This stirred something in Naruto’s heart, and he asked softly.  

By helping Kakashi just now, Naruto felt their relationship had grown closer. He thought he could finally ask the questions he had been hesitant to voice before.  

But unlike last time, when he’d held back, this time he felt he could speak.  

“No, I can’t. I have one more thing to take care of.”  

Hearing Naruto’s question, Kakashi shook his head slowly, pulling himself out of his thoughts.  

He had been pondering what jutsu to teach Naruto. After an entire night of indecision, an idea had finally struck him just moments ago.  

Naruto’s blond hair had stirred something in Kakashi, briefly pulling him into a deep, somber place in his heart. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling—more like a bittersweet memory.  

“What else do you have to do?”  

Naruto was caught off guard by Kakashi’s refusal.  

Hearing there was something else Kakashi needed to handle, Naruto felt a little anxious.  

Did Kakashi want to harm him too?  

Naruto’s heart grew conflicted. His small hands tightly gripped the blanket.  

If Kakashi really did want to harm him, what should he do?  

This thought sent his mind into a spiral of confusion, leaving him unable to find an answer.  

“Don’t worry. I want to teach you a jutsu—nothing else.”  

Sensing Naruto’s unease and the deep sense of loss radiating from him, Kakashi’s tone softened. His voice was warm and full of genuine kindness and affection for Naruto.  

Hearing this, Naruto loosened his grip on the blanket. A wave of joy washed over him, and he felt a growing sense of reliance on Kakashi.  

In the past, he relied heavily on Hiruzen Sarutobi. He was like a land-bound duck that couldn't swim, clutching at a life-saving straw in the water, desperate to hold onto Hiruzen to avoid drowning in a boundless, icy, and dark abyss.  

But Hiruzen Sarutobi ultimately let him down. It was as if he had discovered a ray of light in the darkness, hoping to break free, only for that light to suddenly dim and plunge him back into the void.  

"If only he had never seen the light, he could have learned to live in the darkness."  

When a ray of light pierces the darkness only to vanish, that light becomes guilty. 

But if it endures, it becomes salvation.  

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s light, however, was always false. It could never last.  

Even so, despite being hurt by Hiruzen Sarutobi, Naruto still wanted to take one more gamble. He wanted to grasp that light, even if it might once again leave him beyond redemption.  

Yet, as he stood now, he no longer needed that light.  

Because he had grown accustomed to the darkness—and in doing so, gained tremendous power. His heart had long turned away from the light.  

Still, there was an inner struggle tied to his warmth toward Kakashi.  

To Naruto, Kakashi embodied the family and friendships he longed for.  

Even so, Naruto wasn’t sure how to maintain such connections.  

“Thank you, big brother...”  

...  

After a long silence, Naruto spoke softly, his voice trembling slightly, betraying his inner turmoil.  

Those who lack love often appear strong, but the smallest acts of kindness can pierce their defenses, leaving them overwhelmed and unable to stay calm.  

“Do you have a pen and some paper? Considering your struggles with hand signs, I’ll teach you a jutsu that doesn’t require them. But it’s an A-rank technique, so it won’t be easy. Once you master it, you’ll see a whole new world.”  

After some thought, Kakashi spoke gently.  

At this stage, teaching Naruto any other jutsu wouldn’t be very practical. It was better to go straight to the point and teach him the Rasengan, a technique that originally belonged to his father.  

Kakashi had decided on this course of action the moment he saw Naruto’s blonde hair.  

Initially, he had planned to teach him the Chidori, but he didn’t have any chakra nature papers with him.  

Unlike the Rasengan, which forms a pure, non-elemental chakra energy sphere, the Chidori requires lightning-nature chakra.  

And in truth, Kakashi felt it was more fitting for the Rasengan to reappear in Naruto’s hands.  

Although he had mastered the technique from Minato, the Rasengan didn’t suit Kakashi personally. He found limited opportunities to use it.  

Under the faint moonlight, Kakashi wrote down the training steps for the Rasengan.  

He had no intention of providing hands-on guidance or demonstrations. By the time Naruto made significant progress, Kakashi figured he’d already be back.  

This arrangement was also to ensure Naruto stayed focused on training and out of trouble while Kakashi was away.  

A small precaution, just in case.  

“Train well. I’m leaving now.”  

After finishing the notes, Kakashi left. The Anbu he had incapacitated would wake up before long.  

“Thank you, big brother. Can you tell me your name?”  

Naruto carefully folded the paper Kakashi had left behind, tucking it close to his body like a treasure. He softly asked the question while watching Kakashi slip out the window.  

Kakashi paused slightly at Naruto’s words.  

“You’ll know one day.”  

After a brief silence, Kakashi responded quietly.  

Before Naruto could process it, Kakashi was gone, leaving behind only the closed window and a dazed boy.  

“I’ll train hard...”  

Much later, a faint promise escaped from Naruto’s lips inside the dimly lit room.  

Under the night sky, a young blonde boy curled up on his bed, clutching the folded papers to his chest. The tattered blanket barely covered him, but the neat writing on the pages whispered of hope and determination.  

Chapter 129: Kakashi’s Maneuvers  

As the first light of dawn broke, Itachi and Kakashi were already geared up and heading out of the village. 

For Itachi, traveling to the Land of Water was a familiar journey.  

With a mindset of play wherever you are, he wasn’t particularly burdened with thoughts.  

“What technique are you teaching Naruto?”  

The two had slowed their pace once outside the village, leisurely making their way.  

…  

“Rasengan.”  

Kakashi didn’t bother hiding anything when Itachi asked. He kept walking without looking back, casually responding.  

“Impressive.”  

Hearing Kakashi’s reply, Itachi muttered to himself, unsure if he was marveling at fate or destiny.  

At barely ten years old, Naruto was already learning the Rasengan. Coupled with his potential, his future seemed limitless.  

Someday, I should swipe Kakashi’s Chidori and gift it to my foolish brother as a little boost…  

Itachi’s mind began to wander.  

If he had a lightning affinity, he’d try Chidori himself. The blue electric light was just too cool.  

As for the Rasengan, Itachi wasn’t confident he could achieve Naruto’s mastery. 

Even though he knew the steps and could probably learn it quickly, he wasn’t particularly interested. To each their own.  

…  

“Have you mastered the Wood Release I taught you? Can you use it now?”  

Itachi pulled himself from his thoughts and asked Kakashi, who was walking ahead.  

“It’s coming along. I know what you’re aiming for. I can build us a campsite for tonight, but perfecting the technique will take time.”  

Kakashi’s response, almost as if reading Itachi’s mind, revealed the latter’s intent directly.  

Itachi was momentarily taken aback.  

Kakashi understood Itachi’s thoughts as soon as the question was asked. After all, with their level of skill, Itachi wouldn’t inquire unless it was for practical reasons.  

“…You know me too well…”  

Itachi found himself at a loss for words.  

Still, he couldn’t hide his mild disappointment. Several days had passed, and Kakashi hadn’t mastered even a basic Wood Release technique.  

But then Itachi recalled the past few days and realized—Kakashi had been engrossed in his Make-Out series books, leaving no time to study Wood Release.  

…  

“You know, your logic is always so bizarre. But unfortunately, I can already guess your next thought,” Kakashi said, clearly annoyed by Itachi’s remark.  

“And have you considered that your logic isn’t exactly straightforward either?” Itachi retorted, silencing the conversation for a while.  

The two didn’t speak another word until late afternoon.  

Finally, Kakashi broke the silence to ease the tension.  

“Hungry yet? Should we—”  

…  

“Find a few cute critters?” Itachi interrupted before Kakashi could finish.  

“I want fish,” Kakashi said, almost petulantly.  

“Fish, huh? That works. Grilled fish smells great, and I haven’t had any in a while,” Itachi replied, oblivious to Kakashi’s sulking tone—or simply pretending not to notice.  

Come on, you’re a grown man. Don’t be so sensitive.  

At this rate, Itachi thought, he’d end up taking charge of everything like some overbearing leader.  

…  

“I’m starving. I could eat three fish. Want to make it a contest?”  

The two reached the riverbank as the setting sun cast its golden glow over the water, creating a breathtaking scene.  

Kakashi’s competitive streak flared.  

The thought of Gai crossed his mind—this mission was to rescue him, after all. Subconsciously, he mimicked Gai’s tendency to propose a challenge.  

Usually, Gai initiated these contests, and Kakashi would begrudgingly accept.  

In truth, Kakashi enjoyed these little competitions, even if he pretended otherwise.  

If he didn’t, there’s no way he’d have indulged Gai so many times.  

…  

“What kind of contest? Who can pee farther?”  

Itachi, staring at the scenic view, responded without missing a beat, conjuring an amusing mental image.  

“Hashirama, I can already pee—uh, ahem—fight across to the other side…” 

Itachi's words left Kakashi momentarily stunned. Since when did Itachi develop such a weird sense of humor?  

"Let’s compete to see who catches three fish first."  

The thought of the two of them competing like this sent a chill down Kakashi's spine.  

Was it just his imagination, or had reading too many romance novels and spending countless long nights dulled his edge?  

A sudden, unsettling thought crossed his mind: would he one day end up peeing downwind and soaking his shoes?  

Shaking off the absurd and baseless fears in his head, Kakashi tried to correct Itachi's slightly eccentric thought process.  

“Oh, catching fish? Is that even something you can compete at?”  

Hearing Kakashi’s response, Itachi gave him a peculiar look.  

Was this really the same Kakashi he knew? He hadn’t expected Kakashi to suggest such a childish activity.  

“The rules of the game are pretty simple. We can’t use chakra or go into the water. We can only use other methods to catch the fish.”  

At this point, Kakashi himself was starting to lose interest. It no longer seemed like such a fun idea.  

Sometimes, ideas are only exciting for a moment.  

But after a long day of traveling, Kakashi was thoroughly bored. Catching some fish, roasting them, and passing the day sounded much better than pressing on. Plus, he hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in days, and he was starting to feel it.  

Besides, he’d already brought it up, so might as well see it through.  

A ninja never gives up easily—it’s a way of life.  

It definitely wasn’t because he wanted an excuse to slack off and drag Itachi into his plans…  

“Oh, I see…”  

Itachi didn’t say much about Kakashi’s enthusiasm.  

After all, plenty of people genuinely enjoy fishing or catching fish.  

It’s not about loving fish; it’s about loving the process of catching them.  

Itachi hadn’t traveled like this in a long time and wasn’t too keen on the endless walking either.  

Since Kakashi had suggested it, he decided to reluctantly agree. He’d take this chance to show Kakashi some real skills—so he could understand what true technique looked like.  

“Let me tell you, whether it’s fishing or catching fish, doing it without using chakra is a great way to train your reflexes and agility…”  

Seeing Itachi’s lackluster reaction, Kakashi felt compelled to muster a bit more energy and pitch the idea in a more enticing way.  

Sometimes, people beat around the bush instead of saying what they really want.  

“Uh…”  

Itachi looked at Kakashi, speechless.  

Was Kakashi really trying to lower his IQ on purpose? Not only was this an insult to his intelligence, but it felt like Kakashi wanted to drag his IQ down to the floor and grind it into dust. This didn’t feel like something a decent person would do.  

Seeing Itachi’s expression, Kakashi opened his mouth to say something but found he couldn’t continue.  

It was frustrating when someone didn’t play along. It made Kakashi feel like a clown performing solo.  

Throwing flirtatious glances at a blind man—it was truly a helpless situation.  

“Fine, let’s do it…”  

Noticing Kakashi’s awkwardness, Itachi finally spoke softly, as though all the energy had been drained from his body.  

Without waiting for Kakashi to respond, Itachi bent down and started picking up small stones from the riverbank.  

Seeing Itachi take action, Kakashi felt a spark of energy return.  

A few minutes later, as Kakashi looked at the fish in front of both of them, he began to ponder. Maybe this was too hasty.  

“Sigh… You win. As the loser, I’ll handle dinner tonight.”  

Kakashi discreetly nudged one of the fish by his feet to the side with his foot.  

He was back to his usual tricks—buying time.  

No matter what, he wasn’t planning to continue traveling before nightfall. His pride was intact, and he avoided the awkward topic of why he seemed so sluggish.  

Traveling? Not happening.  

For a good night’s sleep, he was willing to go to any lengths—even if it meant embracing his darker side.  

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you then…”  

Since Kakashi had volunteered, Itachi saw no reason to argue.  

If Kakashi could set aside his pride and share his true thoughts, they might’ve already caught enough fish, eaten their fill, and been preparing to sleep.  

After all, Itachi wasn’t new to this game. He was a seasoned pro at slacking off. Who did Kakashi think he was dealing with, pulling stunts like this?  

Chapter 130: Silence Is the Ultimate Contempt  

Night fell.  

A satisfied Kakashi lay comfortably in the wooden hut, picking his teeth with a toothpick, looking entirely content.  

"You’ve really let yourself go—getting food stuck in your teeth from eating fish..."  

Watching Kakashi recline like a couch potato, Itachi shook his head and spoke.  

Their relationship was somewhat peculiar.  

"I haven’t let myself go! It’s just that if I don’t use a toothpick after eating, it feels like the meal wasn’t complete," Kakashi retorted, feeling a bit offended by Itachi's tone and expression.  

He quickly explained himself.  

They were going to spend a lot of time together in the future, and he didn’t want to keep seeing Itachi’s disapproving glances.  

"That’s something people do at restaurants. After they finish eating, they use a toothpick to show off—they’re trying to act cool. Where did you even pick up this nonsense?"  

After hearing Kakashi's reasoning, Itachi looked exasperated.  

"Uh, well..."  

Kakashi was at a loss for words.  

"Hand over Naruto’s blood," Itachi said flatly as he lay on the wooden bed on the other side, trying to break the awkward silence created by Kakashi, who pretended to sleep with his eyes closed.  

"Sure, I’ll get it now. But what do you need Naruto’s blood for?"  

Kakashi retrieved a small storage scroll from his ninja pouch. After unsealing it, a syringe appeared in his hand.  

Itachi didn’t respond. He opened his palm and made a slight gesture.  

With a faint glow of chakra, the syringe was enveloped and floated into Itachi’s hand.  

Don’t ask why Itachi used such an elaborate method—it wasn’t just for show.  

He had eaten a bit too much, felt bloated, and didn’t feel like moving much.  

Kakashi stared at Itachi, wide-eyed, wondering whether Itachi was planning to inject Naruto’s blood into himself.  

His mind raced nervously.  

But before he could say anything, a soft sound interrupted his thoughts.  

Under Kakashi’s watchful gaze, Itachi’s chakra pulsed faintly, and then he effortlessly completed a series of hand seals.  

Itachi completely ignored Kakashi’s curious expression.  

A small green snake with a rounded head slithered onto Itachi’s hand. He gently stroked its tiny head, and the snake hissed softly, looking thoroughly content.  

It was strange. In his previous life, Itachi had been deathly afraid of snakes. Who would have thought that in this life, he’d have such a close bond with them?  

Itachi inserted the syringe into the snake’s mouth.  

"Tell Orochimaru to try merging this blood with Hashirama’s cells," he instructed the snake, not bothering to hide his words from Kakashi.  

"What are you doing?"  

Only after the snake disappeared did Kakashi finally speak.  

"It’s better not to ask about things you shouldn’t know. Knowing too much isn’t good for you. Once Orochimaru has time, I’ll have him prepare something good for you," Itachi said, shutting down Kakashi’s curiosity with a firm change of subject.  

"Something good? What is it?"  

Itachi had successfully diverted Kakashi’s attention, and the latter asked reflexively.  

"If it’s for you, then it’s a gift. When the time comes, you’ll find out," Itachi said with an air of mystery, deliberately teasing Kakashi and refusing to elaborate.  

"Get some sleep. Good night."  

Just as Kakashi was about to press for more details, Itachi ended the conversation like a devil closing the curtain on his curiosity.  

Itachi closed his eyes, ready to sleep, leaving Kakashi feeling helpless.  

Why did he have to end up with someone like this?  

It was truly exasperating.  

Kakashi had a naturally curious personality, but soon enough, fatigue overcame him, and he fell into a deep sleep.  

The two of them didn’t bother setting up any traps or defenses. They simply went to sleep openly in the wooden hut.  

Of course, Itachi was only lightly dozing. Any subtle movement around them would wake him instantly.  

"Naruto, there’s a practical combat test today. Be careful—you don’t want to lose too badly."  

While the unreliable Itachi and Kakashi were still fast asleep, the young students were already brimming with energy and attending class.  

"Don't worry, I'll knock them all down."  

Naruto replied nonchalantly to Sasuke's question, his voice brimming with confidence.  

"You... You seem like a completely different person today," Sasuke said, looking at Naruto in surprise.  

Although Naruto had been distracted yesterday, seemingly studying something intently, he still sounded like his usual self when he spoke. But today, Naruto was like a fierce little tiger, exuding an intimidating aura.  

"Is that so? Maybe it’s because of love," Naruto responded, gazing out the window with a wistful look, as if burdened by the solitude of being a master.  

...  

In truth, the Naruto currently in class was just a Shadow Clone.  

Just last night, Naruto had finally mastered the basics of the Shadow Clone Jutsu.  

Naturally, the next day, he sent a Shadow Clone to school.  

But compared to the Shadow Clones in the original story, which would argue with Naruto over trivial matters, this clone seemed much wiser and more confident—almost like it wasn't a mere jutsu.  

"Damn it, this jutsu is truly worthy of being an A-rank technique. It’s so difficult..."  

Naruto sat on the floor of his room, surrounded by small water balloons. These were ordinary balloons filled with water.  

He had already begun experimenting with the first stage of mastering the Rasengan.  

...  

"Naruto, you're still young. You should think less about love and focus on your hand signs. It'll slow you down," Sasuke said, struggling to respond to Naruto's out-of-the-ordinary comment. He could only echo what the Third Hokage often said.  

"Sasuke..."  

Hearing Sasuke's words, the Shadow Clone called his name but found himself momentarily at a loss for words.  

"Naruto, if you can’t focus on the lesson, then go stand outside and listen from there," Iruka said coldly, not even turning his head as he continued writing notes on the blackboard.  

He could tolerate other students chatting during class, pretending not to notice.  

But the moment he heard Naruto’s voice, an inexplicable irritation filled his heart.  

On top of that, memories of his late parents would surface, intensifying his discomfort.  

...  

In the past, Iruka had also sought attention by acting like Naruto, making a spectacle of himself.  

This only made him despise Naruto’s behavior even more.  

He blamed Naruto for his parents’ deaths.  

Naruto's attention-seeking antics reminded him of his own embarrassing past, filling him with shame and anger.  

Many people struggle to confront their foolish younger selves, and Iruka was no exception.  

...  

"Naruto..."  

Sasuke called his name softly, noticing that Naruto seemed lost in thought. He wanted to snap him out of it.  

Naruto glanced at Sasuke and blinked, signaling that he understood.  

Meanwhile, Hinata, sitting not far from Naruto, also looked concerned.  

She remembered that snowy day when Naruto saved her and took a beating in her place, forever winning her heart. Truly, destiny had brought them together.  

"Naruto, stand up and leave the classroom!"  

Iruka, noticing that Naruto was ignoring him, slowly turned around and placed the chalk down. His tone was cold and condescending as he looked at Naruto as though he were nothing more than a weed.  

This dismissive gaze deeply angered the Shadow Clone, who carried all of Naruto's memories and a slightly altered personality.  

That look... It was more unbearable than anger or ridicule.  

It wasn’t even an acknowledgment of his existence.  

Even hatred or fury from Iruka would have been more tolerable than this indifference.  

Iruka’s attitude perfectly demonstrated what it meant to truly disregard someone.  

...  

Naruto remained silent, gazing out the window without uttering a word.  

Since Iruka couldn’t see him, why should he bother acknowledging Iruka?  

That air of superiority and disdain…  

Naruto’s silence was his ultimate expression of contempt.  

As the saying goes, silence is the highest form of disdain.  

The classroom grew quiet. The standoff between the two created an intense atmosphere, as if a storm was brewing.