The two of them set off from the training ground, walking along the small path in the direction of the Uchiha Compound.
The sun had already dipped behind the mountain peaks.
Naruto had never walked this path before, but Sasuke was very familiar with it and led the way in front.
“It’s shorter to go this way,” Sasuke said, pointing to a fork in the road ahead.
Naruto followed behind, holding his staff in his hand, looking around from time to time.
The further they went, the more the buildings of the Uchiha Compound could be seen ahead.
Ten minutes later.
Before the entrance to the Uchiha Compound, the fan-shaped clan crest was engraved above.
With a white background and red patterns, it was very striking under the glow of the sunset.
Sasuke stopped and looked back at Naruto: “We’re here.”
Naruto raised his head, surveying the complex of buildings behind the gate.
Although he had caught a rough glimpse of it two years ago, he had already forgotten most of it.
This place was on the edge of Konoha Village; walking any further would lead to the Village walls.
It was also very far from the center of the Village, and there were few pedestrians on the street.
Occasionally, someone would pass by, nodding when they saw Sasuke, and taking a few extra looks when they saw Naruto, but they didn’t say anything.
Naruto walked and looked, getting a general idea in his mind.
Although this compound was not small, its location was remote, as if it were separated from the rest of the Village.
It was completely different from the compounds of the Hyuga and Nara clans, which were scattered throughout the Village.
The Uchiha only moved here after the Nine-Tails Incident; he wondered if they had been deliberately arranged on the edge, or if they had chosen to stay here themselves.
Just as Naruto was thinking about this, he suddenly stopped.
A faint sense of being watched came from behind.
Naruto did not turn back, but slightly turned his body, his peripheral vision sweeping toward the direction opposite the Uchiha Compound.
There was a tall building there, significantly higher than the surrounding structures.
The exterior wall of the building was uniform in color, and the windows were tightly closed, so it was impossible to see what was inside.
But behind those windows, someone must be watching this side.
Ever since he started advanced magic control training with Grandma Frieren, Naruto’s perception of his surroundings had become increasingly keen.
As long as he calmed his mind, even small animals would mistake him for just a part of nature and would not become alert.
Therefore, this feeling of being watched could not be wrong.
“Sasuke,” Naruto spoke, his voice very soft, “Is that building also part of your Uchiha?”
He gestured with his chin toward the direction of the high-rise.
Sasuke followed his gaze, paused for a moment, and shook his head: “It seems that this building has existed since I was born.”
He thought for a moment and added: “As for whether it belongs to our Uchiha or what it is used for, I don’t know either.”
“I see,” Naruto withdrew his gaze and did not ask further.
The two of them walked side by side into the gate of the Uchiha Compound.
Once inside the compound, Sasuke relaxed completely and began to introduce the people and things in the compound to Naruto, his tone carrying a hint of pride.
“Naruto, that is Aunt Geng and Boss Tebiyaki’s rice cracker shop.”
Sasuke pointed to a small shop by the side of the road, with a cloth curtain hanging at the entrance, from which a faint fragrance wafted out.
“Their rice crackers are delicious!”
Just as he finished speaking, the curtain was lifted, and a middle-aged woman poked her head out.
Seeing Sasuke, a gentle smile appeared on her face: “Sasuke, brought a new friend here?”
Sasuke nodded happily: “Yeah, his name is Naruto.”
Aunt Geng looked at Naruto with gentle eyes: “Welcome to visit, next time Auntie will treat you to some rice crackers.”
Naruto bowed slightly: “Thank you, Auntie.”
When he straightened up, he felt a bit surprised.
The Uchiha people didn’t seem as scary as Kurama said. Get faster updates on g.com.
Aunt Geng was very kind, and her smile was very friendly.
It was completely different from the people in the Village who looked at him with strange eyes.
But in the Mental Space, Kurama snorted.
“Don’t be fooled by appearances; the Uchiha Clan are not easy to deal with.”
Naruto replied in his mind: “You haven’t even met them.”
“No need to meet them,” Kurama’s tone was disdainful, “Things like the Sharingan are uncomfortable just by existing.”
Naruto didn’t respond and continued to follow Sasuke forward.
“That is Uncle Yashiro’s house.”
Sasuke pointed to a house not far away, with a yard a bit larger than the neighbors’.
“He is an elite member of the Konoha Military Police Force, and my father values him highly.”
Naruto took a look; the yard gate was half-open, and it was quiet inside.
“That is Big Sister Izumi’s house.”
Sasuke’s tone suddenly became a bit resentful.
“She always takes advantage of when my brother is free to pester him, causing the time I spend with my brother to decrease.”
Naruto couldn’t help but laugh: “Your brother is very popular.”
Sasuke snorted and did not deny it.
“That is Big Brother Shisui’s house.”
Sasuke pointed to a place a little further away, an ordinary house with a small tree planted at the entrance.
“Although my brother respects Big Brother Shisui a lot, I think my brother is the most amazing!”
When he said this, his chin was slightly raised, and his eyes were bright.
Naruto nodded: “Your brother is indeed very amazing.”
Hearing this, the smile on Sasuke’s face deepened.
The two walked and talked all the way, and Naruto kept every name Sasuke mentioned in his heart.
Yashiro, Izumi, Shisui…
And the previously mentioned Aunt Geng and Boss Tebiyaki.
The outlines of the Uchiha clansmen slowly became clearer in his mind.
Sure enough, only by delving deep into the Uchiha Compound could he learn more information about the Uchiha clansmen.
If he just stayed in the center of the Village, he would never be able to find out these things.
“We’re here!”
Sasuke suddenly stopped and pointed to a house ahead.
“This is my home.”
The two walked in, and Sasuke pushed open the door and shouted inside: “I’m home.”
Mikoto’s voice came from inside the house, gentle and peaceful: “You’re back?
Dinner is almost ready.”
She walked over from the end of the corridor, and upon seeing Naruto behind Sasuke, she was slightly stunned.
Then she smiled.
“You must be Naruto, right?
Sasuke mentioned you last night.”
Naruto greeted politely: “Hello, Auntie, sorry to bother you.”
Mikoto shook her head and said softly: “It’s no bother, come in.”
Sasuke had already changed his shoes and impatiently pulled Naruto toward the living room. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“Come, I’ll take you to see my room!”
Naruto was pulled forward, and he looked back into the distance.
That high-rise…
The feeling of being watched was becoming more and more intense.
…
Meanwhile.
Hokage Office.
Third Hokage sat in his chair, his pipe placed on the table beside him, smoke rising slowly, soon filling the entire office.
Two people were half-kneeling opposite him.
Itachi and Shisui.
The two had just returned to the Village after separately completing missions, and after meeting at the Hokage Building, they came over together to report.
Itachi calmly explained the recent meeting contents within the clan and the changes in the clansmen’s attitudes one by one.
Third Hokage listened very carefully, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.
The attitude of the Konoha Military Police Force was becoming increasingly radical.
Some people had even started to openly express their dissatisfaction with the Village.
The two Advisors and Danzo were also constantly applying pressure, hoping to use the Anbu to gradually replace the authority of the Konoha Military Police Force in Konoha.
Third Hokage rubbed his temples.
It wasn’t that he didn’t know the seriousness of the problem.
But he still hoped for a peaceful resolution.
Fortunately, within the Uchiha Clan, there were still people like Shisui and Itachi.
They possessed the Hokage’s way of thinking and were willing to strive for peace between the Village and the clan.
Shisui had just returned to the Village after completing a mission recently, and he didn’t have much to report either.
His understanding of the recent situation within the clan was not as detailed as Itachi’s, so it was mainly Itachi reporting.
After Itachi finished speaking about the contents of the clan meetings, the remarks of several radicals, and the changes in the clansmen’s attitude toward the Village, he suddenly paused.
Third Hokage noticed his hesitation and raised his head: “Itachi, if you have anything to say, feel free to say it.”
“In any case, I will trust you.”
Shisui stood to the side, looked at Itachi, and showed a puzzled expression.
Could it be that something else happened while he was away?
Itachi was silent for two seconds, then spoke: “Hokage-sama, you should remember what happened yesterday, right?”
Third Hokage nodded.
Itachi continued: “After Sasuke returned home, he told Father about meeting you and Naruto.”
“But my father said, there is no need to pay attention to your words; as long as Sasuke is willing, he can let Naruto come to our house as a guest.”
The office fell silent.
Third Hokage did not speak immediately, but picked up his pipe and took a deep puff.
Smoke was exhaled from his mouth and slowly dissipated.
Third Hokage said in a deep voice: “It is not that I suspect Fugaku or other Uchiha clansmen.”
“But Naruto going to the Uchiha Compound is indeed a very dangerous matter.”
“This is a fact from every perspective.”
Itachi and Shisui nodded in tacit agreement.
This was indeed one of the points of contention that could cause conflict between the Village and the clan.
The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki getting too close to the Uchiha would, from any angle, trigger an uncontrollable situation.
If it cannot be handled properly, it is estimated that something major will happen.
Shisui looked at Itachi, with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
Itachi shook his head slightly, signaling to talk about it later.