Home Visit

It looked like he'd gotten himself into trouble. On the way home, Hui drooped his head and said softly, "Senior Itachi, I'll pay for the damage. Just give me some time. Could you please not come to my house?"

"It wasn't Hui's fault, Brother. I was the one who dragged him there," Sasuke explained to his brother.

"Enough, you two. I told you, that's not the issue. I've been meaning to visit Senior Chuanhe anyway. I'm not here to blame anyone. I just want to ask why he taught you such a dangerous technique. This has nothing to do with you, Hui."

"And you, Sasuke—next time you and Hui want to test a technique, go to the Training Ground. Senior Chuanhe built that place specifically for testing dangerous techniques like this."

After listening to the two boys' "testimony," Uchiha Itachi had a general idea of what had happened. He decided to pay Senior Chuanhe a visit. He'd never had a good opportunity to talk with him before, and this was undoubtedly the perfect chance.

"I'm home," Hui called out listlessly.

When he pushed open the living room door, Hui was surprised to find his father sitting there. Tea had already been poured on the small table, and faint wisps of steam still rose from the cups.

Uchiha Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly. "Senior Chuanhe, I hope you'll forgive my unannounced visit."

"Welcome, young masters. Please, come in." Chuanhe rose and gestured for them to enter.

Sasuke frowned slightly. He didn't like being called "young master." And although Senior Chuanhe seemed polite, as the rumors had suggested, Sasuke found something about him irritating.

"Thank you, Senior." Uchiha Itachi led Sasuke into the living room.

"Sasuke, go to another room with Hui. I have a few things to discuss with Senior Chuanhe," Uchiha Itachi said.

"Oh, all right." Sasuke already disliked this sort of situation, so he obediently followed Hui, who was still hanging his head, to the study.

"Please, have a seat."

Uchiha Itachi sat down and said, "This is my first time visiting your home, Senior. I'll get straight to the point."

"Hui is only six. Isn't it too early to teach him such a dangerous technique?"

"Too early? If I waited a little longer, he might not have so much free time to practice techniques," Chuanhe said calmly, taking a sip of tea.

Chuanhe's words made Uchiha Itachi's heart sink. As expected, Senior Chuanhe knew something about what was going on behind the scenes.

"Senior, how do you think we should choose between the clan and the village?" Uchiha Itachi asked without hesitation. It was a question that had long troubled him.

"How did Shisui answer when you asked him?" Chuanhe didn't answer. Instead, he asked Uchiha Itachi a question in return.

"Senior Shisui... I've never asked him that," Uchiha Itachi said after a pause.

"No matter who asks me, my answer will be the same. The Uchiha Clan gave me the opportunity to prove myself. Whatever the circumstances, I'll stand with the Uchiha Clan." Chuanhe paused briefly before giving his answer.

"Besides, that was Yuki's wish. She hoped I'd help her find a way for the clan to survive. Unfortunately..." Chuanhe's expression grew complicated as he trailed off.

"I'm sorry, Senior."

"Don't be. That's all in the past. As for survival, if Clan Head Fugaku maintains the current situation, I think we can hold out until the Fourth Great Shinobi War. Perhaps responding to change by staying the course is the best choice for now."

Uchiha Itachi fell silent for a moment, then said, "I'll pass your words along exactly as you said them."

After a pause, Uchiha Itachi spoke with some embarrassment. "Senior, could I ask you for a favor?"

"Go ahead."

"I'd like to ask you to teach Sasuke techniques in your spare time. I don't have much time to teach him because of my work for the village. I can't think of anyone in Konoha better suited to teach him."

"Of course." Chuanhe readily agreed.

"Then I'll leave him in your hands, Senior." With that, Uchiha Itachi bowed to Chuanhe.

"Think nothing of it. I'm a member of the clan too. It's my duty."

Just then, Sasuke's voice came from the study. "That's cheating, Hui! You're cheating! With a scroll like this, any ninja could learn those techniques just by reading it!"

Uchiha Itachi and Chuanhe looked toward the study, then exchanged smiles.

"I'll leave Sasuke in your care, Senior. I'll come pick him up before dinner. Goodbye." Uchiha Itachi drained his tea and stood to take his leave.

"Take care."

A few minutes earlier, Sasuke had seen that Hui was still hanging his head and said, "Don't worry. My brother agreed, so it'll be fine. If we really have to pay for the damage, I'll cover it."

Hui looked at Sasuke as if he were some strange new creature.

"What's with that look?" Sasuke asked irritably.

Maybe not everyone in the clan is one of those annoying people, Hui thought. Then, as if he'd made up his mind, he held out his right hand.

"Let's get to know each other properly. I'm Uchiha Hui, and I'm six years old. I like studying techniques. My dream is to protect everyone I care about," Hui said solemnly.

Sasuke froze, then instinctively held out his own right hand, mimicking Hui. "I'm Uchiha Sasuke. What I like is... is..."

Hui laughed. "Sasuke, when you introduced yourself at school, you only gave your name. So you didn't know what you liked?"

"Shut up! I... I like eating dango. Right! Dango!" Sasuke stammered.

"Dango? I'll remember that," Hui said earnestly.

Sasuke didn't know how to respond, so he turned his head—and spotted a cabinet locked off to one side.

Following Sasuke's gaze, Hui explained, "Oh, those are technique scrolls written by my father. I learned the Flame Explosion Technique from one of them."

"Really?"

Sasuke was still a child, after all, and his attention was instantly drawn to the scrolls.

Seeing his reaction, Hui said generously, "My father told me I can teach anyone the techniques in here. You're the first friend I've made, Sasuke. Take a look at these techniques, and I can explain anything you don't understand."

By the unspoken rules everyone followed, technique scrolls were secrets each clan never shared. Sasuke understood that, of course. No matter how much he wanted to learn techniques, he had to give up the idea.

Friend? It was such a distant word. This time, it had come so close to Sasuke. To Hui's surprise, Sasuke didn't argue.

Hui's words reached Sasuke, but he still hesitated. "Are you sure that's okay? Maybe you should ask Senior Chuanhe again?"

"Don't worry. My father told me this just today. It's definitely fine."

After Hui put it that way, Sasuke had no reason to refuse. He waited beside him while Hui unlocked the cabinet.

"Why did Father set the password in code? These characters are so hard to write," Hui complained as he worked on the lock.

"Done. Here, Sasuke. This is the Fire Release: Flame Explosion Technique. I figured this was the technique you most wanted to see. The scroll has a spell that keeps it from leaving this room. Sorry, Sasuke—you'll have to memorize it for now."

Sasuke took the scroll, and the first thing he saw was a sea of densely packed writing. He steeled himself and began reading it line by line. The more he read, the more astonished he became. Then he blurted out the question that was on his mind: "Even a dummy like Naruto could learn this just by reading the scroll, couldn't he?"

"That's cheating, Hui! You're cheating! With a scroll like this, any ninja could learn those techniques just by reading it!"

"Naruto? Oh, he's one of our classmates, right? I remember him pretty well. During introductions on the first day, he said he wanted to become the Fifth Hokage," Hui said thoughtfully.

"Idiot! You still haven't answered my question! Forget about a dummy like Naruto. I'm talking about this scroll. Believe it or not, I could use the Flame Explosion Technique right now!"

"Hey, hey, Sasuke, do you want to get yourself killed? You remember that this technique has to be used with a physical clone, right? I didn't give it to you so you could try it out right now!" Hui hurriedly stopped Sasuke.

"L-Like I'd forget!" Sasuke put on his trademark flustered, tsundere act.

Just as Sasuke had calmed down, he suddenly realized something and asked, "Can't the Flame Explosion Technique only be used with the Shadow Clone Technique?"

"Oh, that. Father's scroll doesn't mention it, but I figured other physical clones could probably use it too," Hui replied nonchalantly.

"Why don't we go try it at the Training Ground?" Sasuke blurted out, almost as if compelled.

"No, no, no. I've already caused Father a lot of trouble today. I don't want Senior Itachi dragging me back again," Hui said, shaking his head like a rattle drum.

"Don't worry, Hui. Itachi didn't come to blame you," Chuanhe said, pushing open the door.

"Sasuke, your brother asked me to teach you techniques. How about you study with Hui? If there's anything you don't understand, come ask me anytime. I'm usually in the next room."

Sasuke was a little dazed. His brother had left without him? Had his brother abandoned him?

Sasuke's expression gave away everything he was thinking, and Chuanhe understood at once.

"Don't worry, Sasuke. Your brother had to go to work. He'll come get you at dinner. You can study here with Hui for the next few hours, or go to the Training Ground. Either is fine."

Only then did Sasuke relax. He was a little annoyed that his brother had left without saying goodbye, but it wasn't the first time.

Maybe Senior Chuanhe isn't so annoying after all.

"Thank you, Senior Chuanhe. I look forward to learning from you!" Sasuke said stiffly. It was clearly the first time he'd said something so embarrassing.

"Haha, you're welcome. You two carry on. I've got things to do." Chuanhe closed the door behind him.

The study fell into dead silence. A dozen seconds passed.

"Why don't we go try it at the Training Ground?" Hui asked softly.

"Let's try it!"