Uchiha Itachi looked around the Forest of Death with curiosity. This forest was a forbidden zone, an area where others were generally not allowed to enter.
"Shisui, you should be familiar with Itachi. Such a good seed—tsk, tsk—no matter what, he has to be trained properly."
"His dad keeps him protected at home every day. A good seed like this is being buried."
Gekko Chizan spoke as he rubbed Itachi's head, messing up his hair into a complete disaster.
The little Itachi immediately looked displeased. He was a clever little brat and paid great attention to his image.
"Captain Chizan, you don't know this, but I've actually been training Itachi for a long time already."
"And Clan Head Fugaku also agreed to it."
How could Gekko Chizan not know all this? He was just a bit excited the moment he saw Itachi.
With such a good seed, if he didn't fight for him a bit, would he still be Gekko Chizan?
That was also why, even knowing the two coordinates were together, he still flew over.
"Itachi, your dad controls him too tightly."
"In the future, if you want to train, just come find me. I guarantee I'll schedule you to the brim."
"Kakashi, Shisui, hurry up and give Itachi a demonstration."
"I'll be right back."
Flying Thunder God vanished once more, leaving Kakashi and Shisui standing there, looking at Itachi with a hint of helplessness.
Their teacher—their captain—was always so unpredictable, coming and going as he pleased. The two of them were already used to it.
"Itachi, since the captain brought you here, let's start training."
"This is Kakashi, the captain's disciple. Oh right—Itachi, you're about to start school soon, aren't you?"
"Captain Chizan is also a ninja academy instructor. You'll attend his classes then too."
At the mention of the ninja academy, Shisui showed a trace of nostalgia and helplessness. Back then, he had gone to the academy as well, only to run straight into the Third Great Ninja War. The academy was suspended for a long time, which led to him studying with his clan members for quite a while.
Later, he went directly to the battlefield. When he returned to the village again, he had already been arranged as a Chunin. After that, he entered ANBU.
"Hehehe… attending Chizan-sensei's class? That will definitely be an unforgettable memory..."
Kakashi recalled the first time he met Gekko Chizan at the academy—the mask coming off, the pink mouth cover, and then later, One Thousand Years of Death...
Oh god. It felt like ever since he met Gekko Chizan, his life had been filled with hardships. Yes—nothing but hardships!
To the point that he didn't even like using Fire Release anymore, all because of that damn Tiger hand seal. A psychological shadow through and through.
"What? The memories I gave you were that unforgettable?"
"Do you want me to deepen them for you?"
Gone in a flash, back in a flash—Gekko Chizan returned again, arms full of snacks. Among them, a pile of tri-color dango made Itachi's eyes go wide.
Seeing the little handsome boy's eager expression, Gekko Chizan laughed inwardly.
A kid was still just a kid. He, the dignified clan head of the Gekko clan, the Ghost of Konoha—could he really not handle a little kid?
"What? Itachi, you like tri-color dango too?"
"Hahaha, you've got good taste. Sweets are the best food there is!"
Hearing Gekko Chizan's words, Itachi nodded heavily. He thought so too—sweet food made people happy.
"Train! You can eat only after training!"
"Shisui, let me see how you usually train Itachi."
"Kakashi, come here. I feel like our master-and-disciple bond hasn't been strengthened in a long time!"
Kakashi looked at Gekko Chizan approaching step by step with a smile and screamed in his heart: No! Don't come over here!
...
On the other side, after finishing his work, Uchiha Fugaku returned home and discovered that his precious son was gone!
At first, he thought Shisui had taken Itachi out to train, but after thinking it over, something felt off. If it were Shisui, logically, he would have informed him.
"Stop looking. I've been waiting for you for a long time."
"You bastard! I knew it was you! Where's Itachi?"
Fugaku looked displeased as he stared at Gekko Chizan, who had appeared behind him. He didn't even need to think—this had to be that bastard's doing.
"Itachi-kun? I took him to train. He's still in the Forest of Death."
"But don't worry. With Kakashi and Shisui there, nothing will happen."
Gekko Chizan didn't care about Fugaku's expression at all. He had already set his sights on Itachi—no matter who came, even if the heavens themselves descended, they wouldn't let Itachi walk down the wrong path.
"Hmph. Speak. What did you come to find me for?"
"You already have the answer in your heart, don't you? Why ask me?"
The anger on Fugaku's face faded, replaced by a heavy seriousness.
"Don't make that face. It's not time yet. Come on—let's have a drink."
"But not here. Too many eyes. I'll take you to a good place."
Gekko Chizan placed one hand on Fugaku's shoulder. The next second, both of them vanished at the same time.
...
When they appeared again, they were already on a bustling street—clearly not Konoha Village.
"A very prosperous town in the southwest of the Land of Fire. Don't worry, it's not far from the village. Let's go—eat some barbecue, then have a drink."
As the barbecue went on, the two old friends ate and drank together.
"So, tell me—what does the village think of the Uchiha?"
"They sent you as a mediator. Minato must be having a hard time, huh."
Fugaku wasn't stupid. The chaos on the night of the Nine-Tails—he had seen it with his own eyes. Those crimson eyes under the night sky—how could he not have noticed them?
And coupled with the dōjutsu capable of provoking the Nine-Tails into a rampage, what else could it be besides the Sharingan?
Alcohol might numb his body, but it couldn't numb his nerves. He was very clear about the current situation of the Uchiha.
"Mm. It was indeed the work of an Uchiha—but it has nothing to do with you."
"In history, only one person could control the Nine-Tails with dōjutsu. That was your Uchiha—Uchiha Madara, the one who could wrestle with the First Hokage."
"And he's gained new helpers. The village targeting the Uchiha because of him."
Gekko Chizan downed another cup of wine and rattled off a long explanation.
When Uchiha Fugaku heard that name, his pupils shrank sharply.
"Impossible. He should be dead."
"Even if it really is him, then why would he still wear a mask?"
Gekko Chizan spat a mouthful of wine straight into Fugaku's face. Fugaku's shocked expression instantly turned ugly, his anger flaring up from deep within.
"You bastard! Did you do that on purpose?!"
"Cough, cough, cough! I was shocked by you, damn it! What kind of focus is that? Why do you care whether he wears a mask or not????"
What a fine Uchiha clan head—his point of attention was completely different from everyone else's.
"Hmph. If it really were Uchiha Madara, he wouldn't bother wearing a mask."
"Someone that proud—how could he cover himself with a mask?"
Gekko Chizan was mildly surprised again. Huh? He had to admit—Fugaku's understanding really wasn't bad.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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