Huh? Obito the Mutt Entered Konoha

Itachi's first formal meeting with Genkawa Uchiha ended just like that.

He was still a child, after all, and did not have any particularly deep understanding of it. He only knew that the person he had met today was highly valued by both his father and mother.

So, as a child, he was naturally influenced by his parents.

On the way back, Itachi Uchiha could not suppress his curiosity and asked, "Father, was that person... very powerful?"

Mikoto Uchiha glanced at him. She wanted to explain, but after thinking it over, she said nothing and left the opportunity to Fugaku Uchiha.

Fugaku Uchiha fell silent for a moment, then took a deep breath.

"It is not a matter of whether he is powerful. He is the kind of person... who is very rare."

Fugaku Uchiha shook his head, unusually unsure of how to describe him.

If he explained too deeply, he feared Itachi Uchiha would not understand.

If he explained too simply, there would be no point.

Fortunately, Mikoto Uchiha came to his rescue and continued, "Genkawa is a genius of the Uchiha Clan. He was born with a Sage Body. He previously could not use ninjutsu because of his body, but that limitation is gone now. With his talent, he will surely become a powerful ninja very quickly."

Fugaku Uchiha sighed, as though reflecting on something.

"Actually, his strongest trait is not his talent, but something else."

Itachi Uchiha was very curious, but he did not speak, because he knew his father would answer his doubts.

Sure enough, Fugaku Uchiha continued, "Genkawa and I have never gotten along, but there is one thing I acknowledge. His vision and understanding surpass those of most people in Konoha. Moreover, his way of viewing things is especially unique. He can often see through to their essence at a glance. That is the most important thing."

Itachi Uchiha only half understood, but he still asked the question in his heart.

"So... is he even more impressive than you, Father?"

Mikoto Uchiha looked as though she wanted to speak, but stopped herself.

Fortunately, Fugaku Uchiha did not react too strongly. Instead, he nodded.

"In that regard, he is indeed better than me."

As he spoke, he rubbed Itachi Uchiha's head and instructed, "Itachi, I am the Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan. It is my responsibility to make the clan better. But he gave all of that up. His sights were never confined to a single clan."

"So while you study by his side, observe more, think more, and ask more questions. I imagine it will not be long before you gain something from it."

Itachi Uchiha nodded solemnly.

"Yes, Father."

It was a good thing Genkawa Uchiha was not present. Otherwise, hearing Fugaku Uchiha speak like that would probably have made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

The fact that he and Fugaku Uchiha did not get along was known throughout the clan. It had basically been out in the open ever since he was eight years old.

It was hard to imagine an eight-year-old child saying something to Fugaku Uchiha, who had just become Clan Head at the time, that remained etched in his memory to this day.

"If you only accommodate the clan and accommodate the village, the Uchiha will never have a good future."

Fugaku Uchiha had not understood it at the time, but looking back now, he felt that Genkawa Uchiha might have already seen through certain things between the clan and the village.

As for himself, he could only barely hold things together even now.

That was precisely why, when Mikoto Uchiha said she wanted Genkawa Uchiha to become Itachi's teacher, he had not rejected the idea outright.

Letting a child learn beside a smart person could not possibly be a bad thing, no matter how one looked at it.

Naturally, Genkawa Uchiha did not know what happened after Fugaku Uchiha's family returned home, nor was he interested in knowing.

His life remained as ordinary as ever, seemingly unchanged by the matter.

But the things around him were not unchanging.

He saw Uchiha Setsuna again, except this time, the old man was not alone.

Those elders who had originally remained in the clan compound and refused to move had now accepted their fate as well.

The ninjas sent by the village helped them move without harming them. They simply worked in pairs to carry people away directly, while the rest swept up all the furniture and belongings.

The elders did not need to lift a finger. It was practically full-service moving, with everything transported to the new clan compound.

In this matter, the village seemed to possess a rare amount of patience.

And this meeting between Genkawa Uchiha and Uchiha Setsuna took place at the entrance to the clan compound.

The compound was now extremely desolate. Since Uchiha Setsuna was also among those being "moved," he seemed to have accepted his fate. He did not struggle at all and was instead quite cooperative.

Who knew what he was thinking? Perhaps he felt that since Genkawa Uchiha had accepted that scroll, even though he had verbally rejected the invitation, there were some matters that could not be avoided as an Uchiha.

Under those circumstances, Genkawa Uchiha, returning from the Training Ground once again, encountered Uchiha Setsuna being "moved" at the entrance to the clan compound.

"Genkawa, when you have time, come visit this old man at the new clan compound."

With that, he nodded and smiled at Genkawa Uchiha, then hunched over and left together with the ninjas handling the move, without hesitation.

Genkawa Uchiha found it baffling and did not pay it much mind.

Several Konoha ninjas were still standing at the entrance to the clan compound. When they saw Genkawa Uchiha, their leader stepped forward.

"Genkawa Uchiha, under the orders of the Third Hokage, we have come to seal off the entrance to the Uchiha Clan Compound. You..."

Before he could finish, Genkawa Uchiha waved a hand and cut him off.

"Seal it or do not seal it, do whatever you want. Even if you seal it, I will open it again. You do not think a wall can stop me, do you?"

Seeing the expressions of several people change, Genkawa Uchiha smiled. "You do your job and complete the task the Third Hokage assigned you. I will pretend I did not see anything. I will do my own thing, and you should not take it too seriously. Do not cause me any more trouble."

"Genkawa Uchiha!"

The leader's expression was stern. He clearly intended to say more, nothing more than some warning.

But Genkawa Uchiha had already turned and walked into the clan compound, his voice drifting back from afar.

"How about this? You can go back and report to the Third Hokage. If you keep talking, I will not be so easygoing."

These people looked unfamiliar. They were clearly not ninja clan ninjas, since Genkawa Uchiha remembered most of the ninjas from the ninja clans.

That made it obvious that these people came from civilian backgrounds.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had been Hokage for decades, after all. He also knew that when dealing with the Uchiha this way, it was not suitable to send ninja clan ninjas to do it. After all, they might empathize with their own kind.

Easy enough to understand.

These people were clearly furious at Genkawa Uchiha's attitude, but remembering the Hokage's orders before they came, they endured it.

The entire Uchiha Clan had been moved to the new clan compound. Even if Genkawa Uchiha remained in the old compound, it did not matter much anymore.

After all, this was merely an explanation for the village.

It was precisely because Genkawa Uchiha understood this that he cared even less.

He continued living as usual. The desolation within the clan compound seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever.

On the morning of the day he had arranged with Mikoto Uchiha and the others, there was a knock at Genkawa Uchiha's door.

When he opened it, there was a little bean sprout standing outside.

It was Itachi Uchiha.

He held a small backpack. Upon seeing Genkawa Uchiha, he immediately bowed.

"Teacher Genkawa."

The little fellow was very polite. With his delicate features, he could even be called adorable.

"Come in. Have you eaten breakfast?"

Genkawa Uchiha let him in and casually asked.

"I have already eaten."

As he spoke, he set down the backpack, opened it, and said, "Father asked me to bring this. He said it is the tuition for you, Teacher."

Genkawa Uchiha did not stand on ceremony. He took the backpack and looked inside. There were three stacks of money, three million ryo in total. That was no small amount.

After all, even the reward for the highest-ranked S-rank ninja mission was only a little over one million ryo.

And that still had to be split with the village. Only what remained was what the ninja could actually receive.

Ninjas also had considerable expenses.

The daily maintenance and purchase of ninja tools cost no small sum, not to mention ninjutsu training and daily living expenses, all of which required money.

That was why ninjas were so keen on missions.

Because ninjas did not engage in production, and their main source of income was mission rewards.

Clearly, ninjas were the ones who possessed power, yet they were controlled by mundane authority. No matter how one looked at it, such a system was unreasonable, yet nobody changed it. It was treated as though it were perfectly natural.

It was truly baffling.

At that moment, Itachi Uchiha added, "Father also said that this is for this year."

Genkawa Uchiha raised an eyebrow at that, slightly surprised, but he still smiled. "Not bad, not bad. Your father finally showed some generosity for once. Tell him when you return that I am very satisfied."

"Yes, Teacher Genkawa."

Genkawa Uchiha did not waste words and said directly, "Your training begins today. I will first teach you chakra control. It will involve quite a bit of hardship. Can you endure it?"

Itachi Uchiha nodded solemnly. "I can endure it, Teacher Genkawa."

"Good. Wait for me a moment, then we will set out."

Genkawa Uchiha packed quickly as usual. He did not make Itachi Uchiha wait long before leading him out, one after the other.

Looking at the desolate scene within the clan compound, Genkawa Uchiha asked, "How does it feel?"

From the moment he left home until now, Itachi Uchiha had been silent, his gaze often lingering on the buildings lining both sides of the street. Genkawa Uchiha could naturally tell that something was on his mind.

Itachi Uchiha thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Fine. If you cannot figure it out, observe more. If you want answers, ask me."

"Yes, Teacher Genkawa."

The two walked all the way out of the clan compound. Sure enough, its main entrance had already been sealed, with paper seals pasted across it.

Itachi Uchiha said at that moment, "Teacher Genkawa, I climbed over the wall to get in."

Genkawa Uchiha nodded, stepped forward, tore off the paper seals, and opened the gates without the slightest hesitation.

"Teacher..."

Seeing this, Itachi Uchiha was a little startled and somewhat uneasy.

"It is nothing."

Genkawa Uchiha merely smiled and said no more.

"Let's go."

It did not take the two long to reach the Training Ground. Itachi Uchiha remained silent along the way, and Genkawa Uchiha did not try to ease his troubled thoughts. They simply walked in silence.

At the Training Ground, the two stopped. Genkawa Uchiha set down the backpack containing water and other miscellaneous items. Just as he was about to say something, his brow furrowed.

He looked in one direction, where there stood a thick tree.

At the same time, he pulled Itachi Uchiha behind him before speaking. "Whoever is hiding over there, get the hell out."

Itachi Uchiha was slightly startled, but he did not speak. He knew this was not the time for any unnecessary action.

Before long, someone emerged from behind the thick tree.

The person wore a black robe and a black-striped, one-eyed mask, standing there quietly.

Genkawa Uchiha raised an eyebrow. He naturally recognized the person, but still asked, "Dressed like that and wearing a mask, you are not from the village. Who are you?"

The man walked toward them step by step and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"I am Madara Uchiha."

Genkawa Uchiha did not react much, but Itachi Uchiha was thoroughly frightened.

"Madara Uchiha?!"

Sensing his tension, Genkawa Uchiha did not turn his head. He merely chuckled. "I see. You stupid old fool are not dead yet?"