Second Pillar Chased by Dogs, Heir Dispute

The next day.

Early morning.

Little Naruto stretched with a big yawn.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Looking at the sunlight that met his gaze, he squinted, a hint of loneliness in his expression: "Was it a dream?"

Yesterday, he had a dream.

In the dream, he was lying on a strong, warm back.

It was soft, yet also comforting.

This was warmth he had never experienced in his four years of life.

So for a moment, he was reluctant to wake up.

He even wanted to pull the covers over his head and go back to sleep.

Three minutes later.

After struggling for a while, little Naruto finally made up his mind and got out of bed.

Thump.

But the moment he stood up, his azure pupils suddenly contracted.

Staring at the beard in front of him, he muttered: "What, so I'm still dreaming. Guess I'll keep sleeping..."

Another three minutes passed, and he suddenly threw off the covers.

Jumping out of bed, he looked at the spotless room.

His face trembled slightly: "No, no, it's not a dream..."

"And ramen! Ah, milk! There's milk too!"

Gurgle—

His stomach started to growl.

Hunger drove him to run straight over the moment he saw the milk.

He opened the carton, tilted his head back, and took a sip.

Gulp, gulp.

"Hey, why does this taste better than mine..."

With confusion, the four-year-old Naruto drank it all in one go.

He even licked the rim of the carton.

"It's so good, I have to let Uncle Ichiraku try some..."

With that thought, he clutched the two packs of milk in his hands and ran downstairs with a patter of feet.

Outside the window.

Kakashi looked at the newly published book in his hands, his peripheral vision glancing this way. His expression was calm, showing no change.

But the right hand gripping the book was subtly tightening.

He muttered: "So no one really taught this kid that expired milk isn't drinkable..."

In his heart, an indescribable emotion seemed to be spreading.

"Woof woof woof!"

"Ahhh, scram scram scram! Don't chase me!"

"Ow—woof!"

"Bastard! Uchiha Jin, just wait till I grow up, I'll—ahhh! No! Not there!"

Konoha.

Amid the gradually peaceful atmosphere in the village due to the Cloud Village peace talks—a figure!

Or rather, a series of figures, gradually drew everyone's attention.

In front was a small boy in Uchiha attire, running for his life.

Behind him was a pack of Shiba Inus, chasing at full speed.

Whenever they caught up, they bit down!

This scene made the villagers on both sides of the street smile and comment.

"Oh, that little Uchiha brat is being chased by dogs again."

"Heh, who would've thought the mighty Uchiha clan could be so... down-to-earth?"

"Exactly, look at that kid, he's already red-hot."

"See, Uchiha clan members aren't any different from us ordinary people, hahaha!"

Sure enough, kids chasing cats and dogs were the best entertainment for the village's elderly and middle-aged.

In this process, the villagers' original hostility toward the Uchiha seemed to be gradually fading.

Some even started offering pointers.

"Run faster, watch out for the trash can up ahead!"

"Ouch, be careful, there's a wall in front!"

"Go go go! Er Gouzi, overtake him!"

During this chase, a boy in a green bodysuit saw them and his eyes lit up.

"As expected of the great Uchiha clan, to think of using such methods for training!"

"This is youth! Let's burn our youth together!"

With that, his small body charged straight into the pack of dogs.

And took the lead!

Surpassing Uchiha Sasuke!

Sasuke: "Surpassing me???"

After all, he was still a child at heart.

Seeing someone overtake him, his temper flared up instantly.

"Today I'll show you what a true genius looks like!"

With that, he stomped hard on the ground!

A beautiful leap launched him forward.

Sasuke even had time to look back and flash a proud smirk at the green-clad boy.

As if to say: See, this is the pride of the Uchiha clan!

He clearly saw the green-clad boy's pupils suddenly widen, his face turning panicked.

His mouth opened, as if to say something.

"Hmph! See, with just a little effort, I've already scared him!"

The pride on Sasuke's face grew even thicker, and then—

Bang!

Thud!

Slap!

"Ouch!" x2.

Two cries of pain rang out almost simultaneously.

At that moment, Rock Lee's voice finally came out: "Be, be careful! Someone..."

A black-haired and a yellow-haired four-year-old child collided as if by fate.

And then... they started cursing!

"You! You! How do you run?!"

"Don't you have eyes? Can't you see all these dogs?!"

"Aaaah! My milk! You, you damn brat! Pay for my milk!"

"Hmph! I'm not paying, and you haven't paid for my clothes yet!"

"A fan-patterned shirt? Uchiha? Oh, so you're that naturally evil Uchiha brat!"

"Hmph! You yellow-haired fox spirit!"

The two stood in the middle of the road, pointing at each other and trading insults.

Beside them, Rock Lee frantically tried to mediate left and right.

Unfortunately, he failed.

It eventually escalated into a three-way brawl...

On the sidelines, the seven Shiba Inus exchanged glances and silently took half a step back.

When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer.

But before they could retreat, they were dragged in too.

Three kids, seven dogs, a chaotic free-for-all.

Uchiha clan grounds, meeting hall.

Uchiha Fugaku was in the middle of discussing Leaf handing over Hizashi's corpse to make peace with Cloud Village.

He poured himself a cup of tea, waved a hand, and said, "Rest assured, as long as we Uchiha stay calm, things will—"

Just then, sudden shouts came from outside.

"Clan Head! Clan Head!"

A clansman ran over urgently and said, "Clan Head, you need to come see this. Sasuke is outside fighting with... someone!"

Clink.

"Sasuke?! What has that brat done now?!

This is a sensitive period for the village—any stir from the Uchiha clan will be magnified tenfold!

He... tch!"

Fugaku, who had been speaking smoothly, froze, his brow twitching faintly.

Suppressing the anger and worry in his heart, he gripped his teacup and asked, "Fighting who? Did he win or not?!"

"Uh... no... no, that's not it..." The clansman hesitated, then said with a strange expression, "Fighting with seven dogs, a Green Clothes Freak, and a Yellow Hair."

"Oh, as long as he didn't pick a fight with a major clan, it's fine—huh? What did you say? Sasuke is fighting with what?!"

Uchiha Fugaku shot his head up.

"Dogs? Seven of them?"

"And a weird-dressed freak and a Yellow Hair?!"

Realizing what was happening, he slammed his teacup upside down on the table!

"Hmph—yah! That rebellious son!"

Before him, tea slowly trickled across the table.

Drip.

Drip.

Some even splashed onto his pants.

But at that moment, Fugaku had no other thought—he just wanted to rush over and stuff Sasuke into that teacup!

On the wall.

"Is this... trouble?"

Hearing the commotion, Jin tossed Pakkun aside and carefully edged closer to the wall.

Slowing his breathing.

Pressing his whole body against the wall.

Then—desperately activating the Weak Presence trait!

He thought to himself: If you hit Sasuke, you can't hit me, right?