The Uchiha Clan settlement.
Uchiha Fugaku's house.
Itachi lay in bed.
The attack by the mysterious Masked Man and the Two-Tails Jinchuriki seemed like something that had happened a long time ago.
But it had happened just three days ago.
The daimyo had taken up residence in Konoha and was being heavily protected by ANBU.
And Itachi's team...
Had temporarily been given a vacation.
These past few days, aside from eating and drinking, Itachi had shut himself in his room.
Bearing his misery alone.
His heart was filled with disappointment in himself.
He couldn't do anything...
Right before his own eyes...
And yet.
He couldn't do anything.
"Is Itachi all right...?"
From the room next door, his parents' conversation drifted faintly over.
"He hasn't even eaten, and he's still shut himself in his room today."
"He's already a ninja capable of standing on his own. After experiencing something like this..."
"But Itachi is only an eight-year-old child... He should be at the Ninja Academy, playing with children his age..."
"An eight-year-old child? When we were that age, we were already killing enemies on the battlefield."
Uchiha Fugaku spoke in a seasoned tone.
"However... that's precisely why we say he's exceptional. The village pays close attention to Itachi, which is why they entrusted him with protecting the daimyo. Only important missions can provide dangerous experience. After going through several life-and-death battles like this, he can become a true ninja."
His father's words passed through the wall.
Piercing Itachi's heart.
He was too inexperienced...
He still had a long way to go.
Because he was useless, he could only be rescued by others.
Because he was still so pathetic, that was why Father had said those things...
He wanted to become stronger.
Strong enough to frighten that Masked Man away.
*Strong enough