Uchiha Itachi, Your Family Is Very

Akihara Kagura had achieved his goal.

Shimura Danzō truly would not suspect Akihara Kagura of betraying him, but this sudden lofty attitude was inevitably rather displeasing.

It was as though their recent honeymoon period of friendly coexistence had all been fake.

Akihara Kagura felt that his superior, Shimura Danzō, had a problem with his attitude. Once he realized he held leverage over someone, he put on an air of I can crush you whenever I want. Could that really make someone remain loyal to him?

Shimura Danzō did not think there was anything wrong with his attitude.

This old man had controlled his subordinates this way for years without any problems, so he did not see anything amiss.

Ninja...

Weren't they tools meant to be used?

As long as the tool could be used, did it matter how it was used?

Akihara Kagura glanced back at Shimura Danzō and felt that the two of them would perhaps never return to how things had been. In the end, he had still become his superior's tool.

"What are you still looking at?"

Shimura Danzō shot Akihara Kagura a cold glance and said icily, "Do not call yourself Kou anymore. From today onward, you are forbidden from using Root's codename."

"Yes, Lord Danzō."

Akihara Kagura slowly lowered his head and withdrew from the office.

Although Akihara Kagura had disliked the codename Kou from the very beginning, choosing not to use it himself was different from having it taken away...

If Lord Danzō's future life was too peaceful, then he would truly be failing in his duties as a subordinate.

Over the next few days, Shimura Danzō ignored Akihara Kagura completely. He even canceled Akihara Kagura's private ninjutsu training ground, paying no heed to his feelings at all. He had seemingly returned to his proper path, thoroughly treating Akihara Kagura as an ordinary tool.

The Third Exam of the Chunin Ninja Exams arrived as scheduled.

As the most convenient stage for displaying battles between Genin, the exam was held in a circular training arena. Spectators could watch the final exam from the stands above the arena, making this one of the rare grand events the villagers could witness.

Most of the finalists' families had come to see how their relatives would perform. Before entering the arena, the examinees chatted with their family and friends.

Two people drew the most attention.

One of them was Uchiha Itachi.

Uchiha Itachi's father, Fugaku Uchiha, was the captain of Konoha's Police Force and possessed the highest status and strength among all the examinees' families.

His father Fugaku Uchiha, mother Mikoto Uchiha, younger brother Second Pillar, close friends Uchiha Shisui and Izumi Uchiha, along with some Uchiha clansmen who had come to watch the excitement, had all arrived at the Third Exam venue to cheer for their clan's genius youngster.

"Big Brother!"

Second Pillar clung to his brother's arm and pouted. "Hurry up and pass the exam, then come practice shuriken with me!"

"Okay~"

Uchiha Itachi patted his younger brother's head, smiling gently.

"Sasuke, don't disturb your brother."

Fugaku Uchiha glanced at his younger son, surveyed the surrounding examinees, and settled his gaze on a lone figure. "That little fellow is the Wood Style Ninja you mentioned at home, Akihara Kagura?"

"Yes, Dad."

Remembering what had happened in the Forest of Death, Uchiha Itachi's expression grew solemn. "Akihara Kagura's Wood Style is very powerful. I've never seen such astonishing techniques..."

"That Wood Dragon that seemed like a living creature?"

Fugaku Uchiha pondered for a moment and lowered his voice. "The Uchiha Clan does have techniques capable of countering it, but unfortunately, the level of your Sharingan is still not high enough..."

"That child..."

Mikoto Uchiha looked at Akihara Kagura in the distance and frowned slightly. "Doesn't he have any family or friends?"

"He is Danzo's subordinate."

Fugaku Uchiha had long learned part of Akihara Kagura's background from his son. He spoke coldly, "Danzo's subordinates are all tools skilled only at killing and carrying out missions. Someone so young must have been trained from childhood, so naturally he would not have any family."

Because of his position, Fugaku Uchiha had to show Danzo superficial respect. Yet he knew that Shimura Danzō had always been hostile toward the Uchiha Clan.

The fact that Shimura Danzō had such a powerful Wood Style Ninja among his subordinates was no good thing for their clan. Clearly, he had been prepared to deal with them.

Everyone knew...

Wood Style had once defeated the Uchiha.

"Itachi, defeat him."

Fugaku Uchiha placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

"..."

Uchiha Itachi nodded with a composure beyond his years.

The Third Exam had given them several days to rest. Uchiha Itachi had long known that Akihara Kagura was a powerful Wood Style Ninja, so he naturally did not waste that time. He specifically asked his good friend Uchiha Shisui to help him train.

"Big Brother will definitely win!"

Second Pillar refused to let go of his brother's arm, shouting proudly, "No matter who it is, no one can possibly be Big Brother's opponent!"

Second Pillar's voice was a little too loud, inevitably drawing the attention of the other contestants. Many pairs of eyes turned in their direction.

"All examinees, enter the arena!"

The chief examiner for the Third Exam had arrived.

The chief examiner of the Third Exam was named Genma Shiranui. He liked to hold a senbon in his mouth like a toothpick and looked thoroughly carefree.

The examinees bid farewell to their friends and family, then strode into the arena. Yet when they saw Uchiha Itachi and Akihara Kagura, they slowed their pace slightly and fell behind them.

"That Wood Style brat is too strong..."

"Even if we advance, there's no way we could possibly be his opponent."

"It's fine. Our teacher told us not to worry about winning or losing. The examiners won't judge our scores by victory or defeat, but by our performance in battle, deciding whether we have the qualifications to become Chunin. We just need to show our strength..."

"Looks like we still have a chance..."

At the front of the group.

Akihara Kagura and Uchiha Itachi walked side by side.

Uchiha Itachi glanced lightly at Akihara Kagura beside him, then suddenly said, "Sorry. This time, I have to win. I have reasons why I cannot lose."

"It's fine."

Akihara Kagura sounded quite casual, as though he did not care about winning or losing this exam. Instead, he brought up the people outside the arena. "Because your younger brother believes you can win?"

"Yes."

Uchiha Itachi nodded and said gravely, "I do not want to disappoint Dad, and I cannot disappoint Sasuke. I have to make the words he said come true."

"You seem to have a very good relationship with your family..."

Akihara Kagura slowly offered his praise, then sighed. "Looking at you now, you really are a happy family..."

"Thank you."

Uchiha Itachi's attitude immediately softened.

Second update!