A Future Worth Looking Forward To

Fugaku saw Orochimaru to the door with the utmost respect.

When he had first heard that Orochimaru was coming to visit, he had been anxious and uneasy. The clan had discussed it through the night, and many clan members had believed that he came with ill intentions.

After all, for Orochimaru to take the position of Hokage, he must have compromised with Konoha's higher-ups. Given their attitude toward the Uchiha Clan, in order to gain their support, Orochimaru would most likely target the Uchiha as well.

It could be said that while waiting for Orochimaru to arrive, Fugaku had truly felt as though he were facing a great enemy, trembling with apprehension.

After all, quite a few clan members had angrily declared the previous night that if Orochimaru came with ill intentions and meant to target the Uchiha Clan, then the Uchiha would certainly show that damned Fifth Hokage what they were made of!!!

For Fugaku, who had truly hoped that the clan and the village could coexist peacefully, this had been a source of immense worry.

But despite his concerns, he still had to properly face this meeting with the Fifth Hokage.

He had even brought Itachi along.

He wanted Itachi to clearly see the situation within the clan and the village, to understand the clan's difficulties, and to develop the awareness expected of the Uchiha's young clan heir...

Yet the surprise had come far too suddenly!

Overjoyed, Fugaku almost wanted to throw back his head and laugh aloud at the sky, venting the exhilaration in his heart.

At his side, Itachi silently watched his father's happiness.

The corners of his mouth could not help but rise into a faint smile.

After all, it was rare to see his stern and strict father looking so happy, and he was happy for him. Besides, he was not oblivious to the conflict between the clan and the village, and he had been worried about it as well.

After all, he did not want to see the clan and the village come into conflict.

But now, it seemed that Lord Fifth—his future teacher—intended to settle that conflict.

That gave him a favorable impression of his teacher.

Lord Orochimaru was someone worthy of respect.

And clearly, Fugaku was not the only one overjoyed. After Fugaku, unable to contain his excitement, announced the news to the clan through an emergency clan meeting—

The entire Uchiha Clan erupted in excitement!

Figures darted about everywhere.

Some were rushing to share the good news with other clan members, while others simply could not restrain their excitement and ran around wildly in delight.

Quite a few Uchiha even tilted back their heads, covered their faces with their hands, and laughed madly.

Some of the clan members who had been shouting about that damned Fifth Hokage the night before, claiming they would show him what they were made of—

Now, whenever they mentioned Lord Orochimaru, their faces were solemn, reverent, even admiring. They spoke of how outstanding and great Lord Orochimaru, Lord Fifth, was as a ninja, and nearly every Uchiha wholeheartedly agreed.

Walking through the clan grounds, Itachi also noticed that many clan members looked at him with anticipation.

Some clan elders even came up to him solemnly, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Itachi, you must not disappoint Lord Fifth!"

Naturally, Itachi nodded.

The atmosphere in the clan made him feel unusually relaxed as well.

Lord Orochimaru—no, Teacher Orochimaru—had brought all this to the clan. Of course he would not disappoint him.

"Itachi!"

Someone appeared and threw his arms around him.

"Shisui?"

"I'm so happy!"

Shisui's voice was brimming with irrepressible joy and excitement.

He finally released Itachi, only to place both hands on his shoulders and say, "I've always been worried about the situation between the clan and the village! Seeing the conflict between them deepen by the day, I've been so troubled. But now it's all right. Lord Orochimaru has extended an olive branch to the clan, and you're going to become the disciple of Lord Orochimaru, the Fifth Hokage of Konoha! The relationship between Konoha and the clan can finally ease! And you, Itachi—you are the key to all of this! Don't disappoint Lord Fifth! And don't disappoint the clan either!"

"Mm."

Seeing how solemn Shisui was, Itachi answered just as solemnly.

More than anyone, he knew how deeply Shisui loved the clan and how deeply he loved Konoha.

Caught between the clan and Konoha's conflict, Shisui had felt miserable. Itachi had noticed recently that Shisui had been dejected over this matter, and he had worried for him too.

But all of that was over now. Teacher Orochimaru had come to the clan with goodwill, and the clan's resentment toward the village had been swept away. Shisui no longer needed to be so troubled.

He could love his clan and his village as he always had.

And so, Shisui pulled Itachi along, rambling on about how he felt. Whenever he became too excited, his words even turned incoherent. It was clear just how stirred up he was. He could not stop yearning for the future of the village and the clan, and he looked forward to it deeply.

Itachi could not help but smile brightly as well.

Seeing Shisui, and everyone else, filled with hopes for the future—

He too could not help but look forward to the future before him.

By the time he parted with Shisui, it was nearly dark. When Itachi hurried home and stepped through the door, he was surprised to see his father, smiling broadly as he played with Sasuke, his infant younger brother.

Sasuke blinked curiously at his father, who so rarely smiled at him. When his father made him laugh, Fugaku's smile grew even brighter, and he looked just like a foolish father from any ordinary family.

His mother, Mikoto, sat quietly beside them with a smile on her face. Her smile was as gentle as ever, but it held far more warmth than before.

Itachi stared blankly at the scene.

Mikoto noticed Itachi and beckoned to him. "Itachi, come quickly. Dinner's ready."

After Itachi sat down at the table, Fugaku noticed his son looking at him. Somewhat embarrassed, he put Sasuke down, then sternly straightened his face and coughed twice into his fist.

He wanted to resume displaying a father's dignity.

But Sasuke, having been put down, saw his father's formerly smiling face suddenly turn fierce. Seemingly frightened, he burst into loud sobs.

Fugaku, who had just been about to display his paternal authority, hurriedly tried to soothe him.

Mikoto could not help but complain, while Fugaku repeatedly apologized amid Sasuke's cries.

Seeing this scene—

"Heh, hehehe..."

Itachi could not help covering his mouth with a fist.

Yet his shoulders still shook uncontrollably.

He suddenly understood what it meant to be alive.

Not living because he feared death.

But living with anticipation for the future.

"Itachi!"

Fugaku seemed to think his son was laughing at him. Flustered from trying to comfort Sasuke, he became somewhat angry out of embarrassment.

But Mikoto beside him pinched the flesh at his waist. He immediately sucked in a breath of pain, looking rather comical as he keenly felt his parental authority diminish.

He looked helplessly at Mikoto beside him.

Mikoto leaned close to his ear and said to her husband, "It's rare for Itachi to be this at ease. Say less. Don't you know that Itachi has a lot of pressure in his heart?"

Did he?

Fugaku blinked in confusion.