Itachi's Surprise

Zhang Miao's plan had succeeded. Itachi Uchiha's impression of Zhang Miao had been etched deeply into his mind.

Most importantly, Zhang Miao had said all that right in front of Itachi's father, Fugaku Uchiha. This gave Itachi an inexplicable sense of admiration for Zhang Miao.

Too amazing!

The moment Zhang Miao heard the system prompt, he knew he had succeeded. Even without the prompt, the little look of admiration on Itachi Uchiha's face had already given him the answer.

As for Fugaku Uchiha, Zhang Miao could not quite figure it out. Could it be that Fugaku acknowledged his courage because he had badmouthed him in front of his son?

Zhang Miao did not think that was very likely, but no matter what, gaining Ninja Fragments from both father and son at once proved that this opening move had gone remarkably well!

With that thought, Zhang Miao immediately went over and threw an arm around Itachi Uchiha's neck, then grinned again.

"Hehe, Itachi, from now on, we're friends. This is our promise, and it has nothing to do with the Uzumaki Clan or the Uchiha Clan. What do you think?"

"This..."

Hearing Zhang Miao's words, Itachi Uchiha hesitated. He quickly turned to look at Fugaku Uchiha, and only after seeing his father nod did he give Zhang Miao a firm nod.

"Mm, okay!"

Just as Itachi Uchiha nodded, the door opened. Mikoto Uchiha, wearing an apron and carrying a dish in her hands, walked in through the doorway.

When she saw the scene in the room, she immediately smiled.

"Looks like you're getting along very well!"

Hearing Mikoto Uchiha's words, Itachi Uchiha hurriedly stood up. As he took the dish from her hands, he asked, "Mother, where's my little brother?"

For Itachi Uchiha, caring for his little brother after returning from school every day had already become one of his "required tasks," so Mikoto Uchiha smiled again upon hearing him.

"Your little brother is already asleep. Today, you can keep Ryunosuke company instead!"

With that, Mikoto Uchiha looked at Zhang Miao again.

"By the way, Ryunosuke, what about the friend who came with you earlier?"

"Haha!" Zhang Miao laughed and waved dismissively at Mikoto Uchiha. "Don't worry about him. He's probably already gone to Konoha's training ground with Might Guy!"

"My, he really is a hardworking person. In that case, let's eat first!"

After saying that, Mikoto Uchiha quickly set the dishes and rice on the table and served Zhang Miao a heaping bowl of rice.

Zhang Miao did not stand on ceremony. After taking the bowl, he thanked Mikoto Uchiha, then clapped his hands with a smack.

"Thanks for the meal!"

Mikoto Uchiha was an excellent cook. Her dishes could truly be called perfect in color, aroma, and taste. Zhang Miao had always had a great appetite, so he naturally dug in with gusto.

In less than half an hour, most of the food had gone into his stomach, leaving Fugaku Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha staring in stunned silence.

Mikoto Uchiha, on the other hand, was not surprised at all. Instead, she wore a delighted smile.

"Kushina used to have quite an appetite too. Perhaps everyone from the Uzumaki Clan is like this. Ryunosuke, would you like another bowl?"

"Mm!"

Hearing Mikoto Uchiha's words, Zhang Miao, who had never known what politeness was, immediately handed over his bowl.

"Another bowl!"

Itachi Uchiha: "..."

Fugaku Uchiha: "..."

Wouldn't you get bloated from eating that much?

In fact, Zhang Miao really did not feel bloated. With the system's help, all the food he ate had already been digested. How could he possibly feel bloated?

Zhang Miao's motto was—don't ask how much I can eat; just ask how much you have!

But when Zhang Miao stood up after finishing his meal, Itachi Uchiha frowned in confusion.

"Ryunosuke, did you get a little taller than before?"

As he spoke, Itachi Uchiha held out his thumb and index finger, indicating a distance of about one centimeter.

"It looks like you grew about this much!"

Zhang Miao: "..."

What incredible observation skills!

Zhang Miao knew very well that as long as he could eat a big meal, and that meal was nutritious enough, he would grow taller and gain weight.

This was because, under the system's powerful digestive support, anything Zhang Miao put into his mouth was completely digested!

Other than providing the energy Zhang Miao's body needed each day, all the nutrition from that food was used to strengthen his bones and muscles.

That was precisely why Zhang Miao grew so quickly. He was not even a year old yet, but he looked like a child around three years old.

Yet Zhang Miao had never told anyone this secret. Even Owl, who spent every day with Zhang Miao, had not noticed it. Only after some time had passed did he suddenly realize that Zhang Miao seemed to have grown a lot.

This was the first time someone had noticed it immediately, like Itachi Uchiha had!

Fugaku Uchiha had not noticed at first either, but after hearing Itachi Uchiha's words, he carefully examined Zhang Miao and frowned.

"He does seem to have grown taller, and he looks a little sturdier too!"

Watching the father and son trade words back and forth, nearly exposing his secret, Zhang Miao quickly laughed it off.

"Haha, really? That just proves Aunt Mikoto's cooking is good! I'll come eat here more often next time. Maybe I'll grow as tall as Uncle Fugaku!"

Zhang Miao knew that the more he explained at a time like this, the more suspicious he would seem. It was better to simply go along with them and appear more natural.

Sure enough, as soon as Zhang Miao finished speaking, Mikoto Uchiha laughed.

"Hehe... Ryunosuke, you really know how to talk. Then come by often from now on. Auntie will make you delicious food every day and help you grow as tall as your Uncle Fugaku as soon as possible!"

"Mm, thank you, Aunt Mikoto!"

Seeing Mikoto Uchiha's delighted expression, Zhang Miao immediately nodded. But then, as if recalling something, he looked worriedly at Fugaku Uchiha.

"But... would Uncle Fugaku welcome me coming here?"

Fugaku Uchiha: "..."

Damn it, this brat was pretending again!

Though they had not known each other for long, Fugaku Uchiha had already figured out Zhang Miao's personality. Seeing the brat putting on an act again, he had not wanted to pay him any attention. But when he saw Mikoto Uchiha's pleading expression, he could only nod with a grim face.

"Mm!"

Only after seeing Fugaku Uchiha nod did Mikoto Uchiha finally relax. Then she smiled at Zhang Miao again.

"See, Ryunosuke? Your Uncle Fugaku has already agreed. You should come over often from now on, understand?"

Naturally, Zhang Miao was quick to go along with it. As soon as Mikoto Uchiha finished speaking, he nodded obediently.

"Mm, thank you, Aunt Mikoto. I understand. I'll come by often from now on!"

When he said the words "often," Zhang Miao deliberately emphasized them. Mikoto Uchiha did not think much of it, but Fugaku Uchiha's mouth twitched unnaturally twice.

Zhang Miao had no interest in what Fugaku Uchiha was thinking. After successfully changing the subject, he grabbed Itachi Uchiha's hand and ran outside.

"Itachi, let's go play outside!"

"Okay!"

Hearing Zhang Miao's words, Itachi Uchiha instinctively agreed and was pulled out of the house into the courtyard.

Standing in the courtyard, Itachi Uchiha frowned in slight distress.

"What should we play? Ninja games?"

In truth, Itachi Uchiha did not like ninja games at all. Back during the Third Shinobi World War, he had already gone to the battlefield with Fugaku Uchiha and had even personally killed enemy ninja who tried to resist.

To him, ninja games were far too childish. Still, in order to get along well with Zhang Miao, he decided to put up with it.

However, to his surprise, Zhang Miao shook his head and rolled up his sleeves after hearing the suggestion.

"Ninja games aren't suitable for us. Since you've already attended the Ninja Academy, your basic taijutsu should be fine. Come on, let's spar!"

"Huh?"

Hearing Zhang Miao's words, Itachi Uchiha froze.