Beauty Guards the Boudoir!

Uchiha Itachi pulled out three pairs of shuriken in a reverse grip, flinging them while rapidly closing in on Ming Jing. After all, the Kurama Clan's weakness was too obvious—their physical fitness was even worse than that of ordinary jutsu-type ninjas!

Six shuriken flew in from different angles, but Ming Jing calmly swung his longsword, parrying or deflecting each one until they all fell. Uchiha Itachi reached him, a kunai in each hand, striking from tricky angles.

"Illusion Technique: Beauty Guards the Boudoir!" Facing the kunai inches away, Ming Jing calmly uttered a few syllables. Uchiha Itachi suddenly felt his movements slow, and his eyelids grew heavier and heavier...

Finally, Itachi couldn't hold on. His vision blurred, and he asked with difficulty, "What... illusion... is this..."

Seeing Itachi about to collapse, Ming Jing caught him with one arm around his slender waist, keeping the little boy from hitting the ground.

"Young Master's strongest skill really is illusion techniques!" Tsukishiro Yuexi and Qing Yan walked over, Yuexi said with a smile.

"This place is nice, with mountains and water. Yuexi, let's have a picnic here!" Ming Jing smiled. Defeating a six-year-old Uchiha Itachi wasn't much of an achievement—this child was uncut jade before meeting Shisui. After Shisui's careful grooming... ahem... careful polishing... that still didn't sound right... careful guidance, he became the nearly all-powerful Uchiha Itachi of later years!

"Alright." Tsukishiro Yuexi picked a flat spot and spread out a picnic cloth, then took out a scroll and unsealed it. With a "Puff!" a huge pile of food appeared. Qing Yan pulled out another scroll, and with another "Puff!", a set of exquisite tableware and fine tea sets emerged!

"Ah... the ninja world is so convenient." Ming Jing sat on the cloth, looking relaxed. Uchiha Itachi lay flat beside him, the autumn sunlight gilding the little boy as if coating him in gold.

Some time later, Uchiha Itachi woke from a pleasant sleep. He groggily rubbed his eyes, then suddenly remembered he had been sparring with Ming Jing. Just as he was about to jump up, a hand grabbed him.

"Don't be tense. We're having a picnic—try some of Qing Yan's grilled meat! It's great." Ming Jing pulled Itachi along, speaking lazily. Itachi then noticed that his carefully chosen secret training spot had been invaded by many people—some he could name, like Izumi Uchiha, and others he couldn't, random classmates. Even more absurdly, Ming Jing had set up dozens of tables here, each covered with all kinds of delicious food: fruit, drinks, pastries, snacks, flour-based dishes—a dazzling variety, everything imaginable!

"Aha, Itachi, you're awake!" Izumi Uchiha spotted him waking up and ran over with a plate in hand, beaming. "Today Ming Jing invited everyone to a feast—I can't believe he brought so much good stuff. Itachi, try this! It's called Red Bean Cake!" With that, the little girl held out the plate, which held several red pastries carved with intricate patterns, looking more like artworks than food.

Itachi hesitated, then pinched one and put it in his mouth. Soon, a pleased expression spread across his face. He nodded at Izumi Uchiha and said, "Thank you. This is delicious."

"Hehehe..." Izumi Uchiha laughed shyly, then said nervously, "There's even more over there—I'll get you some!" Without waiting for Itachi to refuse, she ran off to pick more.

"What was that illusion called?" Itachi turned back to ask Ming Jing.

Ming Jing said lazily, "With such a nice atmosphere, let's not ruin it by talking about fighting and killing!" But Itachi didn't give up, staring at Ming Jing with a stubborn look that said, "I won't stop until you answer." Ming Jing rolled his eyes and said helplessly, "It's an illusion I developed to sleep better at night. Its only effect is to relieve fatigue and promote sleep. The name is 'Beauty Guards the Boudoir.'"

"Beauty Guards the Boudoir..." Itachi murmured, recalling the peaceful, warm sleep he'd just had. He found the name surprisingly fitting for the technique!

Then he looked at Ming Jing with a suspicious gaze.

Could such a good name really have come from this goofball? Probably Yuexi changed it, right?

"Damn you! How useless do you think I am in your head? I'm amazing at naming things, you know!" Ming Jing was instantly provoked by Itachi's look. Naming things was his proudest skill across two lifetimes! Though "Beauty Guards the Boudoir" was actually from The Goose Illusionary Book...

"Well, in a certain sense, that's true..." Itachi's face twitched slightly as unpleasant memories flooded back! Things like "Tsundere Brat," "Ultimate Little Brother Obsessed," and "Sasuke" were all names this bastard had come up with! Thinking that Sasuke might one day be stuck with the nickname "Sasuke" in the world, Itachi actually felt a little amused inside! What was going on?! He must have been infected by this goofball, right? Definitely!

Just then, Qing Yan walked over with several skewers of grilled meat. Ming Jing took them, sniffed, and said with a dreamy look, "This aroma is irresistible! Thanks, Qing Yan." He glanced at Itachi beside him, handed over three skewers, and said reluctantly, "I can only give you three, no more. This is the tenderest part of the Leiman Barbarian Bull from the Land of Lightning! A whole bull only has about five pounds of this meat, plus Qing Yan's skilled hands... it's priceless!"

"Sorry. I don't like grilled meat." Itachi shook his head.

Ming Jing immediately happily pulled the skewers back, muttering, "Why didn't you say so earlier! I struggled with myself for so long over giving them up."

"Oh really?! Then I'll make an exception this time!" Itachi snatched the skewers from Ming Jing's hand without a second thought and stuffed them into his mouth, chewing and mumbling, "Mmm... it really is good!"

"Ah!!! Damn Itachi! You're dead, you're so dead this time! I'll never forgive you!"

"Hmph!"

After the gathering with his classmates, a rare smile appeared on Uchiha Itachi's face. But when he got home, his father, Uchiha Fugaku, sat in the main hall with a stern expression.

"Father." Itachi put away his smile and called out from the doorway.

"Come in." Fugaku said coldly. Itachi walked in and knelt before him.

"From now on, don't associate with the Kurama Clan." Fugaku finished speaking and stood up to leave, not giving Itachi a chance to respond. Itachi knelt in the hall, head bowed, his expression hidden.

Uchiha Mikoto stood outside holding Uchiha Sasuke, watching her eldest son with concern. But this was the Uchiha Clan—she had no right to speak.

"Waaaaaah..." Just then, the little Sasuke in Mikoto's arms suddenly started crying. Mikoto quickly patted him gently, soothing him softly.

"Mother." As Mikoto fumbled, Itachi came over. He held out a finger and wiggled it in front of Sasuke's eyes. The little boy was immediately drawn to Itachi's finger and stopped crying.

Seeing this, Mikoto handed Sasuke to Itachi and said helplessly, "You two brothers get along so well! As soon as Itachi comes, Sasuke stops fussing."

"Sasuke is a good boy." Itachi looked at Sasuke, his eyes full of tenderness and affection.

"Itachi, don't blame your father. He must have his reasons." Watching Itachi play with Sasuke, Mikoto thought for a moment and finally spoke.

Itachi paused, and Sasuke grabbed his finger, immediately breaking into a delighted smile. Itachi was infected by Sasuke's smile and nodded. "Mother, don't worry. I understand."

"Ha... I'm so glad you understand. It's decided—tonight we'll make a big dinner!" Mikoto showed a gentle smile and clenched her fist as if to encourage herself.

"Big dinner! Big dinner!" Sasuke, who understood nothing, chimed in.

"Even if it's big, you can't eat much." Mikoto pinched Sasuke's soft little cheek and said with a giggle.