Ripples in Itachi's Inner Heart

Dan knew that his presence made him a third wheel.

So, after glancing at Itachi, he said to Izumi, "Little girl, my nephew isn't feeling well. Could I trouble you to walk him home?"

Izumi was stunned for a moment, then nodded like a chick pecking at rice: "O-okay."

"Then I'll leave it to you."

Dan tossed out that sentence, patted Itachi on the shoulder, and turned to walk away.

Under the streetlights.

Itachi and Izumi locked eyes, then both looked away, falling into silence.

A moment later, Itachi was the first to speak:

"Sorry, if my uncle's actions just now startled you, I hope you won't take it to heart. His personality has always been like this."

"It's fine, Dan-senpai... he's quite interesting."

Izumi covered her mouth and giggled.

Then, she noticed Itachi's clothes and her eyes lit up, "Wow, what a cute cartoon T-shirt. Itachi, I didn't expect you to wear this style of clothing."

"This was my uncle's shirt when he was a child," Itachi said, his face turning red.

"Huh? What happened to your teeth? Did you have them pulled, or are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Seeing Itachi lisping as he spoke, Izumi couldn't help but step forward, asking with curiosity and concern.

"I accidentally knocked it out myself," Itachi said, feeling extremely embarrassed and offering a lame excuse to try and brush it off.

"Hehehe." Izumi had never seen him like this before and laughed happily, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

After some small talk.

The two walked tacitly toward the small park in the Clan Compound.

After walking for a while.

"About last time, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things to you," Itachi apologized again.

"Not at all, it was me who caused you trouble," Izumi hurriedly waved her hands, apologizing to Itachi as well.

Some time ago.

Itachi had asked Izumi why she wanted to be a ninja, telling her that a girl like her shouldn't have to experience the horrors of the ninja world.

Izumi had been very angry at this, saying she wanted to be a ninja because of her father, and even gathered the courage to tell Itachi that she wanted to walk the same path as the person she liked.

That was a confession.

But Itachi did not respond.

In the end, Izumi had walked away in tears, and the two parted on bad terms.

The boy and girl had finally reconciled.

"By the way, I've become a genin."

Izumi smiled and pointed to the forehead protector on her head, but soon pouted and complained, "But it's so boring. My missions are either helping the daimyo's wife look after her pet cat or helping officials in the Land of Fire move house."

"Ninjas all start out that way," Itachi said.

When he learned that Izumi was only doing missions without any danger, he somehow felt a sense of relief and peace of mind.

The two walked and laughed, chatting happily.

Itachi felt that Izumi was gentle, kind, and understanding, much like his mother, Uchiha Mikoto.

However.

When the conversation turned to Itachi joining the Anbu, Izumi suddenly said she was afraid—afraid that Itachi would leave her behind and drift further and further away.

During this process.

Izumi finally lost control of her emotions, burying her face in Itachi's chest and sobbing softly.

Itachi didn't know what to say for a moment, so he could only reach out and gently hold Izumi, waiting for her to calm down.

"I'm not going anywhere."

He said this.

Probably... he added in his Inner Heart.

Itachi looked up at the sky. The moon emerged from behind the dark clouds, casting bright moonlight that illuminated his face.

During this time.

His uncle, and Izumi—these people who had broken into his life were like moonlight piercing through the clouds, shining into his heart.

They caused ripples in his otherwise stagnant Inner Heart.

Dan strolled around leisurely and returned to the Alley where the Gym was located.

Hm?

He suddenly sensed several gazes coming from the darkness behind him, lingering on him like needle pricks before quickly moving away.

So soon? It seems that old man Lord Danzo is quite furious.

Uchiha Dan did not turn his head, pretending to be oblivious as he pushed open the door to the Gym.

"Starting tomorrow, I will be leaving the Village for a while to take care of some business. You should take a break as well and get some rest for a few days."

He found Samui and gave her these instructions.

"Alright, thank you, Gym Director."

Samui's face lit up with joy, feigning the excitement one would expect from being granted time off.

Is the Gym Director going out to earn money again?

Although Samui was very curious, she had already failed once while tailing Uchiha Dan and dared not risk it again so easily.

She had originally thought Uchiha Dan only focused on fitness and building muscle, but ever since she witnessed him in action, she had vaguely guessed the nature of his work.

Most likely, he was involved in something like bounty hunting.

This conversation between the two.

Was heard word for word by the Root Ninja lurking outside the Gym.

"A perfect opportunity. Follow Uchiha Dan out of the Village tomorrow and strike in a secluded area," one of them said in a low voice.

The few Root Ninja exchanged glances and reached a consensus.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten and there were few people on the streets of Konohagakure, Uchiha Dan stepped out of his house.

He wore a wide Black Cloak and a conical hat that obscured most of his face, moving quickly toward the outskirts of the Village.

Two hours later.

Uchiha Itachi arrived.

He was off duty today, so after dropping his younger brother Sasuke off at the Ninja Academy, he headed to the Gym early, worried that Lord Danzo might send someone to cause trouble for his Uncle.

Strangely.

As Uchiha Itachi walked through the alley, he felt an unusual silence; for some reason, the gazes that usually monitored him from the shadows had vanished today.

He soon discovered.

The Gym had a Suspended Business sign hanging on the door, and Samui was wearing Gloves and holding a Towel, wiping and cleaning the Window outside.

"Uchiha Itachi, you're here early today."

Samui was slightly surprised to see him and said, "The Gym Director had some business and went out; he won't be back for a while. However, he specifically instructed that you are free to come and go as you please and use the Equipment inside."

As she spoke, she took off her Gloves and walked over, preparing to open the door for Uchiha Itachi.

Uchiha Itachi's expression changed, and he hurriedly asked:

"When did my Uncle leave?"

"He left just this morning. Is something wrong?" Samui sensed that something was amiss and asked.

"It's nothing."

Uchiha Itachi did not want to worry Samui, so he changed the subject, "Are you free this afternoon? My mother asked me to invite you to go shopping with her."

After saying this, he turned and left immediately, rushing toward the Root base at top speed.

Ten minutes later.

At the entrance of the Root Underground Base.

"Halt!" Two Root Ninja blocked Uchiha Itachi, refusing to let him enter.

Uchiha Itachi said nothing and immediately activated his Sharingan.

Clang, clang, clang!

After a brief clash of Kunai and Ninja Sword, the two Root Ninja fell before Uchiha Itachi, slipping into unconsciousness.

Stepping over the injured pair, Uchiha Itachi pushed forward and successfully met with Lord Danzo.

"Lord Danzo, please do not lay a hand on my Uncle."

The moment he saw Lord Danzo, he knelt on one knee, bowing his head to make his request.

Uchiha Itachi's feelings for Uchiha Dan were complex.

But regardless, Uchiha Dan was his Uncle. He could not sit idly by while his family was in mortal danger from the Root.

"Uchiha Itachi, you are too late."

Lord Danzo leaned on his cane, shook his head, and said with a cold expression, "By this time, Uchiha Dan is already dead."

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