Itachi Uchiha's Legs Had Gone Numb

After washing the dishes, Nine-Tails stretched lazily, took off its apron, and planned to return to the sofa for another Ge You lie.

Just as it was about to leave the kitchen, Nine-Tails's nostrils twitched. It caught the scent of lamb.

Sniffing the air, Nine-Tails went to the pot and lifted the lid, finding a basin of lamb inside. That brat has a conscience after all.

Nine-Tails cursed with a laugh in its heart.

Naruto took Sasuke for a walk along the mountain path. It was late spring, nearing early summer. The trees were lush and green, the grass thick, and the occasional little wildflower poked through, swaying in the wind.

When they passed the pigsty, the pigs inside could not be bothered with them and continued sleeping.

When they passed the flock of sheep, the sheep scattered in panic. Yet none dared to run the fastest; they all watched each other, determined not to be the quickest sheep.

Then, one by one, the sheep began walking as though they were catwalking.

The sight left Sasuke and Naruto speechless with laughter.

Finally, they passed the cattle. The moment several bulls saw Naruto, the resentment on their faces deepened. There truly was not a single drop left.

Naruto did not say anything about the bulls slacking off this time. It was fine to let them rest for a while. Perhaps the cows were already pregnant; if the bulls kept working, then when the calves were born, they would probably angrily ram the old bulls right back.

Time passed slowly.

On the road outside the Uchiha Clan Grounds...

Itachi stood atop a streetlamp.

After finishing their walk, Naruto brought Sasuke to the place where he usually trained.

Sasuke saw broken trees strewn all over the ground and asked in surprise, "Naruto, did you break these while training?"

"Yeah." Naruto nodded, then said to Sasuke, "Sasuke, I'm about to start training. Do you know why White Tiger is so expensive in the village?"

"Why?" Sasuke looked confused.

"Because an inch of time is an inch of gold, and an inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time." Naruto recalled the system's inspirational motto that had pushed him onward, and now said it to Sasuke. "So we have to work hard, seize every moment, and become strong."

Sasuke was deeply moved by those words. No wonder Naruto was so powerful—it had all come from diligent training.

"Yeah, then let's work hard and train together." Sasuke clenched his fist, encouraging both himself and Naruto.

"Yeah. I'll train now, and you can practice Ninjutsu nearby." With that, Naruto took off his shirt, revealing a sturdy upper body. Beneath his wheat-colored skin, every muscle was sharply defined.

He set his shirt aside, worried that it would burst apart when he fully activated the Indestructible Body.

Once he was ready, Naruto began circulating the Indestructible Body.

The Opening Stance.

He began with the Opening Stance...

The moment Naruto assumed the Opening Stance, a series of crackling pops erupted from his bones, like beans being fried. At the same time, his body shot upward, growing another head taller. His muscles swelled, thick tendons knotted over them and twitched faintly.

Sasuke was somewhat stunned by the sight.

Naruto seemed to have transformed. His body had grown a full size larger, and he now stood over 1.8 meters tall. One glance was enough to give a direct impression of overwhelming strength.

As he watched Naruto move through strange poses, with the sound of blood rushing through his body, Sasuke also moved to the side and began cultivating Fire Release.

On the road outside the Uchiha Clan Grounds...

Itachi stood atop a streetlamp.

Suddenly, Itachi's brow twitched. He hurriedly jumped down, sprawled forward, and remained motionless.

He had stood on the streetlamp for too long.

His feet had gone numb.

Back Mountain.

Naruto withdrew his Indestructible Body stance. He was still five forms away from beginner mastery of the Indestructible Body, and the later forms grew increasingly difficult. Now, he could already feel his skin beginning to transform.

Perhaps once he finished those five forms, the transformation of his skin would be complete, and from then on, swords and blades could not harm him.

Naruto let out a long breath of foul air. His body began to shrink, his height dropping as well, until he returned to his usual height of around 1.6 meters.

Turning his head, he saw Sasuke training hard nearby as well. Sasuke was practicing Fire Release on several broken trees, and behind him, charcoal had already piled up like a small mountain.

All that charcoal had been made by Fire Release.

Naruto walked over. Hearing his footsteps, Sasuke wiped the sweat from his face and said, "Naruto, I feel like my Fire Release has improved again."

"Yeah, we're improving together." Naruto nodded.

Sasuke pointed at the charcoal behind him. "Naruto, you can keep this charcoal to warm yourself by the fire in winter."

Warm himself by the fire?

Naruto immediately shook his head. "With my physical condition, I'm no longer afraid of the cold. Still, this charcoal will be useful. Next time, we can use it for barbecue."

After saying that, Naruto added, "Sasuke, take a break. Let's sit down and chat. Maybe you can tell me about your brother..."

"Ah..."

The moment Naruto finished speaking, Sasuke cried out.

"What's wrong, Sasuke?" Naruto asked with concern.

"I only just remembered that my brother might have cooked and be waiting for me at home. I still haven't gone back, so he must be really sad."

"Naruto, I'm going back first. Let's play together again after school this afternoon."

With that, Sasuke bid Naruto farewell.

All along the way, Sasuke kept thinking, What if Brother has been waiting for me for a long time and is unhappy? I shouldn't have only remembered him now.

With those worries in his heart, Sasuke quickened his pace toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

As he neared the clan grounds, beneath the streetlamp where his brother loved to stand, Sasuke saw his brother, Itachi. His brother was sitting on the ground instead of standing atop the streetlamp as usual.

Brother loved standing on the streetlamp.

He isn't standing on it now, so he must be angry with me.

Thinking that, Sasuke felt guilty. He walked over and stopped in front of Itachi, only to see Itachi rubbing his feet with his hands. "Brother," Sasuke called softly.

"Oh. Sasuke, you're back..."

Itachi raised his eyes, and his face instantly filled with a smile.

"Brother, you've been waiting for me for a long time, haven't you? I'm sorry, Brother..." Sasuke apologized in a low voice.

"It's okay, Sasuke. How could I be angry with you? Your brother will never be angry with Sasuke." Itachi reached out and gently rubbed Sasuke's head.

"Brother, you really aren't angry?"

Sasuke felt that his brother had to be comforting him. My brother is so good. He always hides his grievances deep in his heart rather than letting me know.

"But Brother, you're acting very strangely today. At this time in the past, you would always stand on the streetlamp, looking toward some unknown distance with your arms crossed as you waited for me." Sasuke could not help saying.

"I..." Itachi's hand, which had been rubbing Sasuke's head, stopped. After a long while, he finally let out a long sigh.

"Sigh, Brother's feet went numb..."

Whether it was an illusion or not, Sasuke actually heard a rare trace of helplessness in his brother's words.

And...

A trace of resentment.

Thanks to Gore D Shadow, myself, Demonic Dao: Life-and-Death Tribulation, and Reader 160619144518180 for the 100 Qidian Coin rewards. Thanks, Saw Testicles.