In mid-June, news of the preliminary ceasefire agreement reached between Konoha and Kumogakure reached the village, and many villagers spontaneously came to the streets to happily celebrate the arrival of peace.
Almost four-year-old Neji Hyuga, dressed in a loose white kimono-style ninja outfit, held his father's hand, shaking his little head as he looked around. Seemingly infected by the laughter, a smile appeared on his little face, "Father, does this mean we don't have to fight anymore?"
Looking at his son who was looking up at him, Hizashi Hyuga forced a smile, leaned down slightly to pat Neji's head, and said softly, "Yes, peaceful life is coming soon. This is a moment that everyone has been waiting for."
Neji Hyuga looked around again, remembering the important matters within the clan, and asked loudly with anticipation in his eyes, "There's no more war, so the clan activities won't be delayed, right?"
"It's supposedly a birthday party for my father's older brother's child; it'll probably be quite a lively affair!"
Thinking of Hinata Hyuga brother's family, Hizashi Hyuga looked at his son again, and finally managed to control his emotions, softly replying, "It won't be postponed anymore. That girl is a year younger than you."
Neji Hyuga heard that it was a girl, his anticipation grew even stronger.
He had already begun receiving basic ninja training, and among his peers in the branch family, no one could compare to him.
What kind of girl is she?
Seeing the smile on his son's face, Hizashi Hyuga more distressed. He was certain that his son possessed outstanding talent, but in the end, he could only accept being a member of the separate family.
The secret technique requires "charity," and life is also controlled. Although he knows his brother is a gentle person, Hizashi Hyuga still feels a trace of hatred.
Thinking of the secret letter sent back by Hideichi Hyuga, Hizashi Hyuga wavered somewhat, but ultimately sighed inwardly, "I hope my brother can make a change."
Unlike the Hyuga Clan, Itachi Uchiha's birthday this year was not celebrated with great fanfare. Although he was the son of the clan leader and a genius ninja, the Uchiha clan did not have many rules and only valued strength.
In the evening, after finishing his tedious mission, Itachi Uchiha ignored the argument Izumo Tenma and Inari Shinko behind him and quickly left without looking back.
"You stop right there! Don't ignore your senior's instructions!"
"Damn it, you babbling idiot, you drove the weasel away!"
"That's just how women are; they change their tune the moment they see a handsome guy..."
"Damn it! I'm 13 years old, and Itachi is only 7. How could I possibly be considered a romantic partner?"
The two argued incessantly, and just as they were about to get Itachi Uchiha to say something, they discovered that their companion had disappeared. Izumo Tenma, his eyes red with jealousy, muttered angrily, "No wonder he's Uchiha genius. In just a few days, he'll be training with Konoha heroes, free from us ordinary ninjas. No wonder he's been ignoring us."
Inari Shinko moved to Konoha a few years ago with a large group of merchants; she comes from a merchant family.
The family was rescued by Katsuyu during a midnight attack. The girl was extremely grateful to Shu Furukawa, and upon hearing her companion's sarcastic remarks, she immediately retorted angrily, "Itachi is honored to be by Osamu's side! What are you jealous of, you idiot?"
"You call me so affectionately, you flat-chested coward..."
Izumo Tenma all out, and the two argued louder and louder. Itachi Uchiha, who was far away from his companions, vaguely heard the noise and looked helpless. After seeing a familiar figure, he took the initiative to greet him, "Are you going back too?"
When Izumi Uchiha, who had long black hair, turned her head and saw Itachi, a smile immediately appeared on her face.
The girl had a beauty mark under her right eye, and her smile was radiant, "Itachi, did you go on another mission today?"
"Hmm, a D-rank mission."
"That loud-mouthed senior you scolded at school is still as rude as ever."
Itachi Uchiha walked over to the girl and gave a brief response, but Izumi Uchiha blushed slightly and complained in a low voice, "What kind of lesson is that! He got emotional and his Sharingan was passively activated. That guy is such a coward."
As she finished speaking, the girl chuckled softly, recalling how someone had bullied Itachi Uchiha at the Ninja Academy. Remembering that scene, she covered her mouth and couldn't stop laughing.
"You're still the same. I've said it before, emotions can also be transformed into eye power."
"As long as you can control your emotions, you can easily master the power of these eyes."
"This is something my teacher taught me a long time ago, and I hope it can help you."
Itachi Uchiha looked at the girl intently. Although she had only moved to the Naka Shrine two years ago, her ninja skills were outstanding, which earned him his approval.
"Master Shu? No wonder Itachi mastered the Sharingan so early."
My mother never told me any of this.
Izumi Uchiha lowered her head and responded softly. Two years ago, during a nighttime attack, because their residence was neither central nor remote enough, her father tragically sacrificed himself to protect her and her mother.
Witnessing all of this, Izumi Uchiha was constantly consumed by painful emotions from that moment on.
After her mother, who had married out of the country, moved back to the Uchiha Clan with her in the past two years, she finally successfully awakened the Sharingan.
Seeing the walls of the clan's territory, the girl hesitated for a moment, but finally voiced her confusion. "Itachi, I feel like some of the adults are acting strangely. Has something happened?"
"Someone has simply gotten lost on the path of seeking power."
"If any of your clansmen discover that you have awakened your eyes, don't worry about what they say. After you obtain the secret medicine, don't forget what I told you to control your emotions."
Itachi Uchiha looked at the girl and whispered his advice. Izumi Uchiha immediately nodded vigorously, blushing as she softly thanked him, "Thank you, Itachi."
As the two entered the clan's territory, a vortex appeared in the shadows. Wearing a tiger-striped mask, Obito Uchiha watched the boy and girl's backs and inexplicably thought of himself and Rin Nohara.
Having failed to instigate a war in the Land of Frost, he secretly returned to Konoha to search for the "seed" of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Having already left his coordinates at the Naka Shrine, Obito's silent infiltration was met with unexpected delight today. He couldn't help but secretly plan, while the White Zetsu he possessed playfully offered advice. " Lord Madara, be careful. Shu Furukawa will be back soon."
" Itachi Uchiha will definitely stay by his side, and if he's discovered, it'll be a huge problem."
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"That girl is indeed crucial; she might be the key to awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan."
White Zetsu's tone was comical, but Obito was suddenly taken aback. As he was devising a "painful plan" for Itachi Uchiha, he suddenly remembered his own experience. "Could I also be part of Shu Furukawa's plan?"
Upon hearing Obito's whisper, White Zetsu, realizing he had misspoke, quickly replied, "Very likely! After all, only that evil guy understands what Lord Madara cares about."
"Maybe he was attracted to your eyes back then. And now, those Sharingan of yours... I wonder whose they are. Their power is just too immense."
Obito remained silent, White Zetsu, trying to change the subject, casually asked in a comical tone, " Lord Madara, would you like to go visit Rin Nohara again?"
" Kakashi is coming back soon! We might even see him propose in the next few days! That would increase my eye power!"
"Shut up! If you say another word, I'll stuff you into the Kamui Dimension, and you'll never get the Mangekyō Sharingan again."
"No, Lord Madara!..."
Obito recalled certain scenes, his eyes suddenly welled up with tears. The conflicted and painful emotions made him feel extremely uncomfortable, and in the end, he turned into a vortex and disappeared again.
Madara Uchiha has disappeared from the front lines in the Land of Frost, and Minato Namikaze remains extremely vigilant, conducting intensive patrols every day.
Under the cover of night, the Konoha Ninja gathered around the campfire, discussing when they would go home. Minato missed his son, but he was more worried about the elusive enemy who appeared and disappeared without a trace.
"It seems Madara Uchiha has left again! I hope the Fourth Raikage will agree to patrol with him."
"If he sealed the Nine-Tails with the Amber Purifying Pot, it will be extremely difficult to take it back."
Minato didn't take the Raikage's provocative words to heart; he simply hoped to leverage the Raikage's power. Unfortunately, the Fourth Raikage didn't believe him at all.
"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. You can improve the Sealing Jutsu when you get back."
"Does Lord Jiraiya have any useful information? The Land of Rivers... in my memory, it's just a country that hasn't been developed much."
Shu Furukawa asked in a low voice, while Minato let out a long sigh. As a disciple, he couldn't comment on his teacher, so he replied with a wry smile, "Master still firmly believes in the Child of Prophecy of the Great Toad Sage."
"I can understand his feelings; he's dedicated his whole life to this goal, but prophecies don't really help with war."
"I hope Jiraiya- sensei can calm down and master Senjutsu before setting off to explore, which would be safer."
Jiraiya was surprisingly perceptive; he noticed that Nagato had only stayed in the Land of Rivers for an extra month. Shu Furukawa kept this in mind and then sighed, " Lord Jiraiya has been working too hard. He should rest for a while longer to recover from his injuries."
"We've gathered only a small portion of the information about the Rinnegan, and we hope it will be of some use to Lord Jiraiya."
Minato's expression darkened as he thought of the bizarre weapons and terrifying summoning beasts mentioned in the intelligence report. He decisively summoned his communication Toad, took out a scroll, and added, "Tell Jiraiya- sensei to stay in the village for now!"
"It's best to wait until we get back before making any plans."