Turning Itachi into His Own Shape

The facts proved that, in some matters, outsiders could be more proactive than the people involved.

Take Fugaku Uchiha, for example.

He clearly had quite a few objections to Genkawa Uchiha, yet he compromised when it came to his eldest son.

Though it could not exactly be called a compromise.

Rather, he supported the matter of his eldest son becoming Genkawa Uchiha's student, even personally bringing him before Genkawa Uchiha.

Given their current relationship, they were basically at the point where neither could stand the sight of the other.

Fugaku Uchiha could tell that Genkawa Uchiha looked down on him immensely. It was not that Genkawa belittled him at every turn, but he clearly did not consider him a qualified clan head.

After years of dealing with him, Fugaku understood that perfectly well.

And Genkawa Uchiha also understood Fugaku Uchiha's attitude toward him.

The man had hoped Genkawa would become a "true" Uchiha, putting the clan first in all things and devoting his strength to it.

But after realizing Genkawa's attitude toward him, and after everything that had happened, Fugaku had abandoned that idea. Now, because of Genkawa Uchiha's actions, he found him increasingly unpleasant to look at.

That was simply how things stood between them. It was fine when they did not meet, but whenever they did, nothing good came of it.

Usually, Genkawa Uchiha would start by mocking him to his face, and Fugaku Uchiha would respond with rebuttals and reprimands.

More or less, that was how it went.

But this time was different. Fugaku Uchiha brought Itachi Uchiha before Genkawa Uchiha. Although his face remained stern, the slight upward curve of his lips showed that he was doing his best to be pleasant.

Mikoto Uchiha stood beside him, smiling as she led Itachi Uchiha over to Genkawa Uchiha.

Genkawa Uchiha was expressionless as well, but upon seeing Itachi, who was only four or five years old, he still forced out a smile.

"Genkawa, we brought Itachi to meet you today. We'll have to trouble you with him from now on," Mikoto Uchiha said.

Genkawa Uchiha nodded, his gaze falling on Itachi Uchiha.

It had to be said, four- or five-year-old Itachi Uchiha was still an adorable little boy. His features were delicate and refined.

It was hard to imagine that a child like this would do something like that a few years later. It was downright terrifying.

"Mm."

Genkawa Uchiha nodded.

Itachi Uchiha looked up and met Genkawa Uchiha's eyes, his small face filled with great confusion.

He should have been at home as usual, looking after his newborn little brother, but today his father and mother had brought him here.

At his age, he could not yet distinguish too many things, but he knew this was the clan grounds—the Old Clan Grounds. He had thought they would never return after moving away, yet they had come back so soon.

He had seen the man before as well. However, whenever he had seen him in the past, the man had been arguing with his father, and every time, he made his father furious.

Why were two people who disliked each other standing together?

He did not understand.

But he wanted to figure out what exactly was happening.

"I am Itachi Uchiha. Please guide me."

Itachi Uchiha bowed politely, appearing very well-mannered.

Genkawa Uchiha said, "My name is Genkawa Uchiha. I am the teacher your parents found for you."

"A teacher?"

Itachi Uchiha turned to look at his parents.

There was encouragement in his mother's eyes, while his father's expression was stern.

He was used to that, so he looked back at Genkawa Uchiha and asked, "So, what do I need to do?"

Genkawa Uchiha glanced at Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha. Seeing that neither spoke, he considered it for a moment before saying, "You do not need to do anything else. Just remember what I teach you from now on."

"Yes."

Itachi Uchiha answered respectfully.

At that moment, Fugaku Uchiha took the initiative to speak. "Genkawa, Itachi is in your care."

Rarely, he did not put on a hostile face toward Genkawa Uchiha.

Genkawa Uchiha first glanced at Mikoto Uchiha before nodding. His expression remained calm as he said, "Mm, I understand. But let me make this clear first: my own abilities are only so-so. I cannot guarantee what he will learn from me."

Sure enough, Fugaku Uchiha's brow furrowed slightly after hearing that, only to relax soon afterward.

"I can sense that the chakra within you has stabilized. In other words, you have mastered ninjutsu."

Genkawa Uchiha did not deny it. There was no way to deny something like that.

His physique was special. Because of the system, others saw him as someone born with a Sage Body.

And because of his own physical development, his Sage Body had been incomplete before this. As a result, his body had been completely occupied by Natural Energy, and refining chakra would trigger explosions.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you do not lose it next time.

The prerequisite for becoming a ninja was being able to refine chakra, thereby mastering ninjutsu.

There were many types of ninja in the Ninja World. Some excelled at ninjutsu, some at sealing techniques, some at Taijutsu, and naturally, some at sensory abilities.

But no matter how weak a ninja's sensory abilities were, they would always be sensitive to chakra.

Now that Genkawa Uchiha's Sage Body had stabilized, he could naturally refine chakra steadily. And with a Sage Body, the amount of chakra he possessed naturally increased day by day.

He might still be unable to compare to those chakra monsters in the short term, but his chakra reserves already far surpassed those of ordinary ninja.

Under such circumstances, it was perfectly normal for Fugaku Uchiha to sense the chakra within him.

A person who had originally been unable to use chakra and therefore could not master ninjutsu now possessed chakra. Naturally, that meant he could use ninjutsu.

That was easy enough to understand.

In Genkawa Uchiha's view, perhaps that was why Fugaku Uchiha was willing to send his eldest son here.

At that moment, Fugaku Uchiha continued, "With your talent, learning ninjutsu should not be difficult. Although I had many objections to you in the past, there is one thing I will not deny: your perspective and understanding of things have already surpassed the clan's limitations. I hope Itachi can learn that, and not confine himself within the clan."

Genkawa Uchiha's expression turned a little strange.

"Aren't you afraid he'll end up just like me?"

Sure enough, Fugaku Uchiha was still the clan head. At those words, his expression darkened.

Fortunately, Mikoto Uchiha smoothed things over. "You and Fugaku simply have differing ideals. Besides, I believe you will not lead Itachi astray."

"Lead him astray?"

Genkawa Uchiha smiled and did not dwell on the matter. He simply nodded. "Fine, then I understand."

As he spoke, he held out his hand toward Fugaku Uchiha.

Fugaku Uchiha did not understand. "What?"

He was obviously asking him for something.

Mikoto Uchiha seemed to realize what he meant, but she did not speak.

"Pay up. You do not think I would treat this as an obligation, do you?"

The corner of Fugaku Uchiha's eye twitched. He very much wanted to say, Isn't that chakra Ninja Blade enough?

But in the end, he did not say it.

Instead, he was not particularly surprised by Genkawa Uchiha's behavior. Given what he knew of him, Genkawa Uchiha was fully capable of doing such a thing.

"Next time, I will have Itachi bring it with him."

Genkawa Uchiha nodded in satisfaction. "That's more like it."

No one ever complained about having too much money.

Especially when he was teaching Itachi, the young clan heir. There was even less reason to save them money.

As the clan head of the Uchiha Clan, Fugaku Uchiha was naturally quite wealthy. Since he had agreed, he surely would not bring too little next time.

Genkawa Uchiha had great confidence in him on that point.

"Itachi, remember this first lesson."

Genkawa Uchiha looked at Itachi Uchiha. The latter was confused. "I-I do not understand. What first lesson?"

Genkawa Uchiha smiled.

"The so-called first lesson is to tell you that, as a ninja, if you give something, you must receive something in return. That is the foundation of a ninja's existence."

Itachi Uchiha's tiny brows furrowed as though he were trying to understand those words. Then he asked the question in his heart.

"But Father said ninja are tools."

Genkawa Uchiha's smile did not change. "Tools have value."

Itachi Uchiha began thinking again, but Fugaku Uchiha had already frowned, seemingly eager to refute Genkawa Uchiha's words.

"What? Does the clan head think I am wrong?" Genkawa Uchiha asked.

Fugaku Uchiha frowned, but ultimately said nothing more.

At that moment, he seemed to regret bringing Itachi Uchiha here.

Still, he held back his temper and said, "In three days, the Third Hokage will leave the village to report to the Feudal Lord. I will have Itachi come then."

After saying that, he gave a formal nod and turned to leave.

Genkawa Uchiha did not care about his attitude in the slightest. He looked at Mikoto Uchiha. "You do not think there was anything wrong with what I just said either, do you?"

There was expectation in his tone, as though he were waiting for Mikoto Uchiha's answer.

But Mikoto Uchiha understood him far too well. She merely smiled faintly. "Since you teach him that way, you naturally have your reasons. We will not interfere too much."

Genkawa Uchiha could only give her a thumbs-up.

"You two are something else. You really have big hearts."

He looked at Itachi Uchiha and grinned. "Then I will not hold back."

He now felt that turning Itachi Uchiha into his own shape might actually be quite interesting.