Autumn had arrived in Konoha.
Cool winds drifted through the mountains, carrying the dry scent of fallen leaves.
Golden leaves slowly fluttered from the trees, covering the ground in scattered layers of yellow.
Deep in the mountains behind Konoha— Two small figures clashed against each other repeatedly.
Itachi’s talent truly was exceptional.
At only five years old, his swordsmanship was already remarkably refined.
Yujiro resisted the urge to draw his own blade.
Instead, he patiently focused on training his instinctive reactions.
Morning passed quietly like that.
Ding!
Congratulations to the Host for breaking through the physical limit!
Limiter progress +0.2%!
Current Progress: Level 1 (1.2%)!
Ding!
Congratulations to the Host for breaking through the physical limit!
Limiter progress +0.2%!
Current Progress: Level 1 (1.4%)!
After breaking through his limit twice, warmth spread through Yujiro’s entire body.
The morning training session had finally ended.
Yujiro casually walked beneath a large tree and sat down.
“This time…” Itachi also walked over while holding two lunch boxes.
“I brought dango.” Yujiro blinked slightly in surprise.
Then he accepted one of the lunch boxes without any politeness at all.
After eating, Yujiro leaned against the tree trunk, preparing to take a nap.
“Yujiro-san…” Itachi quietly gathered the empty lunch boxes together.
“Can I ask you something?” “Go ahead.” Yujiro closed his eyes lazily.
Itachi hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
“Why do you train so hard?” Yujiro did not answer immediately.
Instead He asked another question.
“And why do you train?” Itachi froze slightly.
Before he could answer, Yujiro continued calmly.
“For your father’s acknowledgment?” “For your family’s safety?” “For the village?” Itachi’s eyes trembled slightly.
Because those really were the answers inside his heart.
Recognition from his father.
Protecting his family.
Protecting Konoha.
Yujiro slowly opened his eyes.
“That kind of thinking…” His tone remained calm.
“Is something only children would come up with.” Itachi looked startled.
Yujiro looked up at the autumn sky above the trees and spoke casually.
“You train for the people beside you.” After saying that, he closed his eyes again and stopped talking.
There was no need to explain further.
With Itachi’s intelligence, he would naturally think about it himself.
“You train… for the people beside you…” Itachi repeated the words softly.
People beside me… Father.
Mother.
And the unborn little brother in his mother’s stomach.
Itachi’s expression suddenly changed.
All this time, he had been thinking about the clan.
About Konoha.
About war.
About conflict.
Yet somehow— He had overlooked the people closest to him.
The people he instinctively wanted to protect most.
A complicated look appeared on Itachi’s childish face.
He turned and stared quietly at Yujiro, who seemed to have already fallen asleep beneath the tree.
But soon, Itachi frowned again.
Because another thought surfaced in his mind.
The clan… Konoha… His family… Were they not all “people beside him” too?
The more he thought about it, the deeper his thoughts became once again.
Yujiro slightly opened one eye and glanced sideways at him.
Then he sighed inwardly.
This kid really thinks too much.
Sometimes, overthinking only makes people forget the simplest answer.
After his nap, Yujiro slowly sat up.
Beside him, Itachi still looked troubled.
“Stop thinking so hard.” Yujiro stretched lazily.
Then the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“This afternoon…” “I’m using my sword.” Itachi’s eyes instantly lit up.
“You’re using the sword?!” He immediately stood up.
In Itachi’s mind, Yujiro must have noticed his confusion and intentionally decided to spar seriously to distract him.
A trace of emotion flashed through his eyes.
Yujiro looked at him strangely.
Why was this guy touched again?
He simply felt like fighting properly now.
After spending the entire morning training only his dodging instincts— Of course his hands were itching.
The afternoon training officially began.
Yujiro slowly drew the black blade from its sheath.
The moment he stood there— The atmosphere changed instantly.
A terrifying pressure quietly spread outward.
Itachi tightened his grip on the short sword in his hand.
His instincts screamed at him clearly.
If he held back now— He would not even survive three exchanges.
“Come.” Yujiro smiled lightly while raising the black blade casually.
“Try fighting me.” The next instant— Itachi moved first.
…
Hokage Office Building.
Top floor.
Inside the Hokage’s office, Namikaze Minato sat quietly behind the desk with a file in his hand.
The document contained information regarding Yujiro.
Yujiro.
Five years old.
Parents died honorably during the war.
Currently living with the Yuhi family.
Registered as Kurenai Yuhi’s younger brother.
Hardworking.
Disciplined.
Extremely driven.
Specializes in swordsmanship.
Actual combat ability: Unknown.
Ever since Kakashi reported what happened at Training Ground Seven, Minato had begun paying close attention to Yujiro.
A talented child with clean origins.
And strangely enough— Minato found himself wanting to meet him personally.
At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the office.
Minato’s expression shifted slightly.
He quickly placed the file away.
The next second— The office door opened directly.
The person who entered was the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Minato’s eyes changed subtly.
At the very least, entering the Hokage’s office should require knocking first.
But Hiruzen did not.
He simply walked in naturally, as though this office still belonged to him.
A trace of bitterness surfaced in Minato’s heart.
Still, he only sighed quietly and stood up.
“Third Hokage-sama.” “Mm.” Hiruzen nodded lightly and walked forward.
However, after approaching the desk, he noticed something.
Minato had stood up— But he had not stepped aside from the Hokage’s seat.
Hiruzen’s brows furrowed slightly.
After a long moment, he finally spoke.
“I came to tell you…” “Our previous decision was correct.” “It’s autumn now.
Winter will arrive soon.” “The weather will only become harsher from here.” He slowly took a puff from his pipe.
“At this stage, if Konoha sends out more shinobi recklessly, the losses will become too severe.” “It’s better to continue waiting.” Minato listened quietly.
But the more he listened…
The more disbelief appeared in his eyes.
How could they keep thinking like this?
The border was already unstable.
And yet they still wanted to continue doing nothing?
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