Uchiha District

Uchiha District

Three years ago, the Nine-Tails' claws and flames tore Konoha's central district to pieces. Yet beneath the devastated ruins, they unexpectedly provided a certain convenience for rebuilding the village.

The original Konoha had merely been a settlement demarcated after the Senju and Uchiha clans, two great clans, shook hands and made peace. Who could have imagined that it would expand into the enormous entity it was today, housing tens of thousands?

The clan compounds of the shinobi clans that joined later were interwoven and scattered everywhere, like stubborn bone spurs deeply embedded in Konoha's developing fabric, leaving planners constrained at every turn.

The catastrophe of the Nine-Tails Rebellion was like a brutal surgical operation, removing those troublesome bone spurs and finally allowing Konoha to grow anew according to a more reasonable blueprint.

Now, the Hokage Building stood as the village's absolute core, with residential and commercial areas distinctly divided. The shinobi clan compounds once scattered throughout the village had collectively moved toward its outskirts. And in this reshuffling, Konoha's foremost clan—the Uchiha—had been placed in the most remote, most marginal location.

The official reason sounded perfectly justified: it made it easier for the police force to patrol and maintain public order.

Yet every Konoha shinobi who had lived through that bloody night bore the image of those scarlet Sharingan spinning within the Nine-Tails' pupils.

That ironclad evidence silently declared that the Uchiha could not be absolved of their connection to that disaster. Faced with this barely concealed exile, Uchiha Fugaku, the clan head, could only grit his teeth and swallow his towering rage and bone-deep humiliation in silence.

At the entrance to the Uchiha District, a small figure had long been waiting there. Uchiha Itachi wore a dark blue clan uniform with the symbolic fan crest on his back, his calm black eyes fixed on Shuji as he approached.

"Senior Shuji." Itachi gave a slight bow, his voice clear and calm. "My father ordered me to wait here and take you to him."

"Thank you, Itachi." Shuji nodded, his gaze falling on the boy. He could sense that Itachi's bearing today was even calmer and more reserved than usual.

Now that his status as a special jōnin had been confirmed, Shuji had begun fulfilling his duties as a captain.

Itachi joining the team was already a foregone conclusion. No matter what, sending an eight-year-old child into dangers ranked B or above called for a necessary meeting with his parent—the Uchiha clan head.

Though Shuji himself had been risking his life on the border at eleven... in the Shinobi World's conventional understanding, eight and eleven marked the divide between a child and a full-fledged shinobi. The former should be studying at the Ninja Academy, while the latter could already take up a blade and enter battle.

"This is your first time visiting the Uchiha District, isn't it, Senior?" Itachi led the way ahead, his voice as even as ever.

"Yes. I was always fighting on the border before, so I rarely had the chance to return to the village." Shuji followed Itachi, quietly surveying the surroundings as he spoke.

The Uchiha District seemed enclosed by an invisible wall.

Beyond the somewhat deserted entrance, however, lay a different world. The streets were clean and orderly, while the buildings on either side retained a traditional Japanese style.

Unlike the bustling Commercial District in central Konoha, the shops here were small but carried a full range of goods: general stores selling ninja tools and daily necessities, izakayas wafting the scent of food, and even an elegantly appointed sweets shop, its display window filled with delicate rice dumplings and sushi.

There were few pedestrians, most of them Uchiha clan members dressed in dark blue uniforms. They nodded to one another and spoke in low voices, forming a close-knit, self-contained circle of life.

The air carried a sense of detachment from the outside world, as though this were a miniature village independent of Konoha.

Shuji keenly noticed that the occasional gazes cast his way held scrutiny, curiosity, and even... a faint, nearly imperceptible coldness. The civilian women and children mostly looked at him with curiosity and slight unease, while the Uchiha shinobi passing by regarded him with blade-sharp eyes, making no effort to hide their wariness and scrutiny toward an outsider.

The instant he stepped through the district entrance, Shuji's stride paused almost imperceptibly.

It was not a gaze from within, but a more distant, more concealed sense of surveillance, firmly fixed on the direction of the Uchiha District's gate.

"Big brother! Big brother!" A young, crisp voice filled with excitement suddenly rang out from a nearby alley.

A tiny figure of around three years old came charging out in an adorable miniature dark blue clan uniform like a little cannonball, heading straight for Itachi, who was leading the way.

It was none other than Uchiha Sasuke. Completely ignoring the unfamiliar man beside his brother, he hurled himself into Itachi's arms with all his momentum, tightly hugging his leg. Raising his little face, his grape-like black eyes shone with pure dependence and joy. "Big brother! Play shuriken with me! Right now!"

The ice on Itachi's face, usually so calm beyond his years, instantly melted away. Utmost gentleness filled his eyes as he bent slightly and softly rubbed Sasuke's smooth black hair. "Sasuke, I need to take Senior to see Father right now. I'll play with you later, all right?"

Sasuke immediately puffed out his cheeks, his little face filled with grievance. His large eyes seemed to shimmer with tears, but he obediently nodded anyway. Reluctantly releasing Itachi, he curiously looked Shuji over before running back into the depths of the alley, turning around every few steps to look back.

At some point, Fugaku had appeared at the entrance of the residence. He silently watched the scene, his expression unchanged. Yet after Sasuke ran away, when his deep gaze settled on Shuji, it carried an indescribable complexity.

Itachi straightened up and gave Shuji a slight nod, signaling that they should continue. His usual composure had already returned.

The two soon arrived before the imposing residence. Itachi stopped at the entrance and respectfully stepped aside. "Senior, my father is waiting for you inside."

Fugaku's gaze had already fallen directly upon Shuji.

Shuji nodded his thanks, removed his shoes, and stepped onto the entryway. Itachi quietly remained standing in the shadows of the outer corridor.

Uchiha Fugaku stood in the inner hall beyond the entrance. Straight as a pine and calm as still water, he wore a dark clan uniform. His composed eyes rested on Shuji with a lofty air of appraisal.

"Jōnin Shuji." Fugaku's voice was low and steady, betraying neither pleasure nor anger as he simply confirmed his identity. "I have long heard of your outstanding achievements on the border. You were also promoted to special jōnin not long ago. The younger generation is indeed formidable."

"You flatter me, Clan Head Fugaku. I was merely fulfilling my duties and did not dare grow lax." Shuji inclined his head slightly, flawless in etiquette and neither humble nor overbearing in tone.

Fugaku turned to the side and gestured for him to enter.

The two entered the Japanese-style reception room and sat kneeling across from each other on the tatami. Itachi's mother, Uchiha Mikoto, served them tea before leaving. Only the curling fragrance of tea and an invisible, faintly tense atmosphere remained in the room.

Just as Shuji had expected, Fugaku did not discuss the dangers of Itachi taking part in missions, nor did he offer any instructions. Lifting his teacup, he opened the conversation in an even tone. "I heard that you have been living in the... Old Residence in the village's West Suburbs? That Lady Toka personally raised and taught you?"

"Yes. Granny has always looked after me." Shuji answered calmly, lifting his own teacup.

Fugaku set down his cup, and its base lightly tapped against the low table. "I have heard that Jōnin Shuji's ninjutsu is exceptional, and that you are proficient in all five transformations. The trials of the border truly forge a person best."

"Circumstances demanded it. I could only practice more."

Fugaku nodded faintly and said no more on the subject. Then he changed the topic, his gaze drifting toward the courtyard beyond the paper doors. "You entered with Itachi just now. What impression do you have of our clan district, Shuji?"

Shuji's thoughts stirred slightly as he considered his words. "The surroundings are peaceful, the clan members live in comfort, and every necessity is available. It is clear that... the clan members are quite self-contained."

"Self-contained..." Fugaku repeated, the corner of his mouth seeming to curl into a faint, inscrutable smile. His gaze remained on the courtyard, and his voice lowered slightly. "Yes, self-contained, and peaceful enough. But... being far from the village center means less noise, yet inevitably fewer connections as well."

He paused, as if merely making an offhand remark, then naturally withdrew his gaze and looked back at Shuji. His tone regained the steadiness of a clan head. "When Itachi carries out missions in the future, I will have to trouble Jōnin Shuji to take extra care of him. His talent is passable, but his experience is still shallow. I hope you will guide him more."

"It is my duty. Please rest assured, Clan Head Fugaku."

Fugaku gave Shuji a long, deep look. Something deeper seemed to flash through his gaze, too quickly to catch.

He said nothing more and rose to his feet. "Itachi, see Shuji out."

Shuji rose as well and took his leave. Fugaku escorted him only as far as the entrance before stopping.

As he stepped out through the gates of the Uchiha residence, the afternoon sunlight felt somewhat dazzling. Itachi waited quietly beneath the corridor. When Shuji emerged, he silently took the lead slightly ahead and to the side. The two walked back along the street they had come from. Shuji could clearly feel Fugaku's gaze on his back, almost tangible and laden with scrutiny, until it vanished when he turned the corner.

The air within the district still carried that self-sufficient tranquility and detachment, while the scent of rice dumplings from the sweets shop drifted faintly through the air.

Itachi's steps were steady, but Shuji could sense a subtle aura of confusion emanating from the boy.

Senior has another identity that Father cares about deeply. Itachi thought, but did not voice the question.